Time-programmable coloration via 3D metastructures for optical encryption

Ming-Ze Zhao; Zhi-Yong Hu; Yi-Han Tao; Ze-Xin Zhou; Li-Jun He; Zhen-Nan Tian; Xue-Qing Liu; Qi-Dai Chen; Din Ping Tsai

doi:10.1038/s41377-026-02202-y

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Time-programmable coloration via 3D metastructures for optical encryption

Original Articles

- Time-programmable coloration via 3D metastructures for optical encryption
- Light: Science & Applications Vol. 15, Issue 4, Pages: 1327-1338(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  1.State Key Laboratory of Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, China
  2.Department of Electrical Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Optical Quantum Materials, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
  3.College of Physics, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
  4.State Key Laboratory of Terahertz and Millimeter Waves, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Author bio：
  
  Zhi-Yong Hu (zhiyonghu@jlu.edu.cn)
  Xue-Qing Liu (liuxueqing@jlu.edu.cn)
  Din Ping Tsai (dptsai@cityu.edu.hk)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1038/s41377-026-02202-y
  CLC：
- Received：26 August 2025，
  
  Revised：2026-01-13，
  
  Accepted：20 January 2026，
  
  Online First：19 February 2026，
  
  Published：30 April 2026
- Accepted：
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Zhao, M. Z. et al. Time-programmable coloration via 3D metastructures for optical encryption. Light: Science & Applications, 15, 1327-1338 (2026).
DOI：

Zhao, M. Z. et al. Time-programmable coloration via 3D metastructures for optical encryption. Light: Science & Applications, 15, 1327-1338 (2026). DOI： 10.1038/s41377-026-02202-y.

摘要

Abstract

Optical information encryption technology

with its advantages such as high-dimensional encryption characteristics and resistance to quantum computing decryption

has demonstrated unique application value in fields like military

communication

and commercial confidential information protection. However

current optical encryption technologies still face challenges such as limited information capacity and security protection bottlenecks due to discrete state switching mechanisms

as well as potential risks of information residual leakage. Here

we propose a continuously tunable time-programmable coloration encryption strategy enabled by three-dimensional metastructures

featuring wide color gamut spectral continuous tuning through the control of the environmental refractive index. Moreover

by innovatively inducing irreversible collapse of nanopillars through capillary forces

the encryption carrier is endowed with physical self-destruction characteristics

thereby enabling "burn after reading" of the encrypted information. As a proof of concept

we demonstrated time-programmable information encryption and self-destruction after reading within a single device

enabled by continuous spectral modulation across the visible wavelength range. This technology provides an innovative solution for dynamic response in information encryption and secure information destruction

showing significant application potential in high-security scenarios such as military confidential transmissions and high-end commercial anti-counterfeiting.

关键词

Keywords

references

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