IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-58041-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Multi-mode geometrically gated encryption with 4D morphing hydrogel

Author

Listed:
  • Xin Wen

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Kaihang Zhang

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Baoyi Wu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Guancong Chen

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Ning Zheng

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Jingjun Wu

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Xuxu Yang

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Tao Xie

    (Zhejiang University)

  • Qian Zhao

    (Zhejiang University)

Abstract

Leveraging the rich stimuli-response of polymers represents a promising direction towards optical communication/encryption. Sign language, which relies on specific geometric change for secured communication, has been widely used for the same purpose since ancient time. We report a strategy that combines both in a validated manner with a hydrogel that not only carries encrypted optical information but also has the hidden behavior to morph geometrically. In particular, the shape morphing behavior is programmable by controlling the oriented state of the polymer chain in the thermo-responsive network. Whether the shape morphing direction is positive (bending) or negative (flattening) cannot be predicted when the polymerization methods are not informed, revealing a hidden manner. Through deciphering the coupling of chain elastic stresses and thermo-induced deswelling stress, the hydrogel can perform designed and diversified 4D morphing which represents evolution of 3D geometries with time as the fourth dimension. Consequently, the corresponding optical information can be gated based on these geometric features, thereby decrypting the correct permutation of information. Our approach that utilizes the geometric 4D morphing for gated verification of optical information offers a strategy for enhancing the security of communication in ways that are quite different from existing strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Xin Wen & Kaihang Zhang & Baoyi Wu & Guancong Chen & Ning Zheng & Jingjun Wu & Xuxu Yang & Tao Xie & Qian Zhao, 2025. "Multi-mode geometrically gated encryption with 4D morphing hydrogel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58041-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58041-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-58041-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-58041-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yue Zhang & Kangkang Liu & Tao Liu & Chujun Ni & Di Chen & Jiamei Guo & Chang Liu & Jian Zhou & Zheng Jia & Qian Zhao & Pengju Pan & Tao Xie, 2021. "Differential diffusion driven far-from-equilibrium shape-shifting of hydrogels," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    2. Shuangshuang Miao & Yu Wang & Lingyu Sun & Yuanjin Zhao, 2022. "Freeze-derived heterogeneous structural color films," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Chujun Ni & Di Chen & Xin Wen & Binjie Jin & Yi He & Tao Xie & Qian Zhao, 2023. "High speed underwater hydrogel robots with programmable motions powered by light," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Longqiang Li & Jiayin Zhou & Junyi Han & Depeng Liu & Min Qi & Juanfang Xu & Guangqiang Yin & Tao Chen, 2024. "Finely manipulating room temperature phosphorescence by dynamic lanthanide coordination toward multi-level information security," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zhigang Wang & Haotian Hu & Zefan Chai & Yuhang Hu & Siyuan Wang & Cheng Zhang & Chunjie Yan & Jun Wang & Wesley Coll & Tony Jun Huang & Xianchen Xu & Heng Deng, 2025. "Bioinspired hydrophobic pseudo-hydrogel for programmable shape-morphing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Kexin Guo & Xuehan Yang & Chao Zhou & Chuang Li, 2024. "Self-regulated reversal deformation and locomotion of structurally homogenous hydrogels subjected to constant light illumination," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Liang Yue & Xiaohao Sun & Luxia Yu & Mingzhe Li & S. Macrae Montgomery & Yuyang Song & Tsuyoshi Nomura & Masato Tanaka & H. Jerry Qi, 2023. "Cold-programmed shape-morphing structures based on grayscale digital light processing 4D printing," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Chujun Ni & Di Chen & Xin Wen & Binjie Jin & Yi He & Tao Xie & Qian Zhao, 2023. "High speed underwater hydrogel robots with programmable motions powered by light," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    5. Tao Wen & Tianjiao Ma & Jie Qian & Zhaoxin Song & Xuesong Jiang & Yuan Yao, 2024. "Phase-transition-induced dynamic surface wrinkle pattern on gradient photo-crosslinking liquid crystal elastomer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Zeyu Feng & Jialei Li & Peng Yang & Xiangxiang Xu & Di Wang & Jiahe Li & Chutian Zhang & Jingguo Li & Hongli Zhang & Gang Zou & Xin Chen, 2025. "Dynamic multimodal information encryption combining programmable structural coloration and switchable circularly polarized luminescence," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58041-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.