Multimode anticounterfeiting materials based on polymers and supramolecular chemistry

The combination of polymer science and supramolecular chemistry has emerged as a promising exploration platform in developing dynamic and responsive materials. The synergy of non-covalent supramolecular chemistry with macromolecular covalent chemistry has opened up advanced applications in the sensing and anticounterfeiting fields. Such supramolecular interactions include hydrogen bonding, host-guest interactions, metal coordination and electrostatic interactions, donor-acceptor, and π-π stacking. Since many supramolecular self-assembling systems lead to a change in absorption or emission behavior of the involved supramolecular units, the combination of polymers with such supramolecular motifs provides a powerful platform for sensing, information storage, and anticounterfeiting applications. Considering that counterfeiting tactics continue to change, the need for multimode anticounterfeiting systems with diverse color and time dimensions as dynamic anticounterfeiting technology is indispensable. Due to the high need for multimode anticounterfeiting materials for nations, governments, suppliers, and customers, it is highly promising to use reversible, dynamic supramolecular structures in combination with polymers that provide good processability and materials properties. This review article provides an overview of the design and application of polymer materials with embedded supramolecular interactions as innovative multimodal anticounterfeiting materials.