Dual enhanced fluorescence contrast and photosensitivity via Zn2+-boosted optically stimulated aggregation-induced emission for optical storage

Super-resolution three-dimensional optical storage has emerged as a promising approach to achieve petabit-level capacity on a DVD-sized disk. Doping photoresists (PR) with aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) provides a multifunctional medium for super-resolution writing and reading. However, achieving high nanoscale fluorescence contrast (ON/OFF ratio) remains a key obstacle to improving recording capacity, readout accuracy, and speed. Here, we introduce a Zn2+-doping approach for optically stimulated AIE that significantly enhances fluorescence contrast. By enhancing the photopolymerization degree to further restrict intramolecular motions of AIEgens, a 1.5-fold contrast improvement was achieved. Consequently, the photosensitivity was boosted, enabling a 33% reduction in the required writing laser power without compromising signal intensity. Our work establishes a practical route toward energy-efficient, reliable optical storage, supporting long-term, low-carbon preservation of massive data.