Flexible four-dimensional optical data storage enabled by single-pulse femtosecond laser irradiation in thermoplastic polyurethane.

Herein, a flexible four-dimensional optical data storage technique is demonstrated by harnessing ultrafast laser-induced fluorophores in thermoplastic polyurethane. By modulating the pulse energy of a 515 nm laser, data voxels with multilevel fluorescence signals can be generated and encoded. The readout accuracy of the encoded multilayer information remains at 92.2% after 50 bending cycles, demonstrating the feasibility of our technology for data recording based on a roll-to-roll method. The generation of fluorophores by only a single femtosecond laser pulse provides the ability to record data beyond 20 MB/s.