A Programmable Multi‑Modal Information Encryption System Based on the Dynamic Wetting Behavior of Liquid Metal

ABSTRACT

Information encryption and security are the cornerstones of the digital era. However, traditional optical and electronic encryption techniques remain vulnerable to decryption due to deterministic material responses and predictable algorithms. In this study, we present a programmable multi‑modal information encryption system based on the dynamic wetting behavior of liquid metal. The system integrates an inclinometer sensor that utilizes the dynamic wetting characteristics of liquid metal, a probe‑driven transmission mechanism, and a three‑dimensional motion platform. Through the coupling of mechanical regulation and fluid dynamics, the system achieves secure physical information encoding with multidimensional and reconfigurable encryption capability. Proof‑of‑concept experiments demonstrate that the system exhibits high precision and stability in the encryption and decryption of image and textual information. The proposed framework employs four independent encryption parameters, and successful decoding requires deviations smaller than 0.02%. Overall, this research establishes a controllable and highly secure materials‑driven encryption framework, providing a promising route for advanced information protection and encryption technologies.