High-security information encryption strategy based on optical functional materials: A review on materials design, problems, multiple coding, and beyond

The proliferation of visual communication and data storage has resulted in the need for secure information protection, rendering data security a crucial concern. Researchers have responded to this challenge by developing innovative technologies, including functional materials that offer potential solutions to achieving high-security information encryption (IE). However, current encryption materials encounter various issues such as susceptibility to potential hackers, low durability, poor compatibility of constituent materials, design intricacy, and high production costs. This article reviews the design, challenges, and applications of optical functional materials in data encryption. The discussion encompasses the characteristics of optical functional materials, such as photonic crystals, fluorescent and hydrochromic luminescent materials, and their utility in enhancing data security. The review also highlights different stimulus-response used in making encryption more robust and outlines potential future directions for the field of IE. As technology continues to progress at a rapid pace, the emergence of novel and sophisticated materials and techniques, including quantum encryption and biomaterials, is projected to transform the realm of information security, ushering in a new era of enhanced protection and safeguarding of sensitive data.