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Information coding, recording, encryption, and decryption are of great importance in the field of anti‐counterfeiting, especially in the current AI information era. Herein, a paper‐like hydrogel composed of solely H‐bonded poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(n‐vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL), namely VAPN, is developed for multiple ways of encryption and decryption based on chemical‐induced phase separation. It not only exhibits excellent ability of ink absorption and retention by the noncovalent H‐bonds and n−π* interactions and good mechanical strength but also maintains a negligible volume change during the phase separation that is crucial for the information fidelity. Given that the noncovalent interactions are the driving force to trigger the phase separation in the hydrogel, available chemical inks are numerous ranging from small molecules to polymers. Furthermore, together with thermally induced phase separation, the different dynamic processes of the association and dissociation between ink molecules and the hydrogel endow the latter with reversible information recording and self‐erasing, temporary or permanent, and customized encryption and decryption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent adaptable liquid crystal networks (CALCNs) are highly potential actuating materials due to their actuation properties and shape reprogrammability. Given the importance of network crosslinking state in a CALCN actuator, we sought an all‐in‐one strategy to probe and visualize its dynamic network while ensuring actuation and reprogramming. Here, tetraphenylethylene derivatives were incorporated into liquid crystal networks via the Diels–Alder (DA) reaction, acting simultaneously as reversible crosslinkers and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probes. The thermally tunable fluorescence of the resulting network can correlate to and thus visualize the actuator's crosslinking status, actuation capability and temperature in real‐time and in situ, yielding an intriguing actuation limit‐alerting function. Furthermore, we verified unprecedented reprogrammability of the AIE‐type CALCNs through both associative and dissociative exchange mechanisms of DA chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covalent adaptable liquid crystal networks (CALCNs) are highly potential actuating materials due to their actuation properties and shape reprogrammability. Given the importance of network crosslinking state in a CALCN actuator, we sought an all‐in‐one strategy to probe and visualize its dynamic network while ensuring actuation and reprogramming. Here, tetraphenylethylene derivatives were incorporated into liquid crystal networks via the Diels–Alder (DA) reaction, acting simultaneously as reversible crosslinkers and aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) fluorescent probes. The thermally tunable fluorescence of the resulting network can correlate to and thus visualize the actuator's crosslinking status, actuation capability and temperature in real‐time and in situ, yielding an intriguing actuation limit‐alerting function. Furthermore, we verified unprecedented reprogrammability of the AIE‐type CALCNs through both associative and dissociative exchange mechanisms of DA chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]