Dynamic Supramolecular Cryptomaterials for Compositional Encoding and Mechanical Decryption

ABSTRACT

Advanced cryptomaterials capable of storing concealed information and selectively revealing it through dynamic pathways are desirable for next‐generation cryptography. However, simultaneously achieving high‐dimensional information encoding, scalable material fabrication, and secure yet equipment‐free decryption remains an unresolved challenge. Herein, we present a class of dynamic supramolecular cryptomaterials (DSCs) that couple compositional encoding with mechanical decryption, establishing a fundamentally different cryptographic paradigm. Multi‐component functionalized colloids are embedded within polymer matrices via dynamic supramolecular interactions, producing visually indistinguishable precursor materials in which the encoded information is completely concealed. Upon prescribed oscillatory shearing stimulus, transient supramolecular networks are selectively activated, driving a disorder‐to‐order transition and leading to highly ordered superstructures with formulation‐specific optical fingerprints, jointly governed by material composition and the mechanical activation. By independently programming composition, including the colloids and polymer, the DSCs enable continuous structural‐color regulation across 410–753 nm while simultaneously tailoring color saturation and brightness. The multidimensional compositional space provides exceptional information density, with each pixel capable of encoding up to 393 identities. This work establishes a general materials design strategy that transforms composition from a passive formulation parameter into an active information carrier and introduces mechanically programmable supramolecular cryptomaterials as a scalable platform for high‐security information encryption and advanced anti‐counterfeiting.