BENGALURU: A research team at IISc has developed a new organic molecule that glows in the dark, offering potential applications in areas such as anti-counterfeiting and bioimaging.The molecule, designed at IISc’s Department of Inorganic and Physical Chemistry (IPC), is a special type of compound containing boron and nitrogen that can emit light long after being exposed to a light source.What makes this molecule unique is that it works at room temperature without requiring metal components.“Most materials that glow after exposure to light currently rely on heavy metals or inorganic substances, which are expensive and cannot be used safely with biological systems. Organic alternatives that glow for extended periods are rare, especially ones with the special light properties this new molecule possesses,” IISc said.Their study, published in Communications Chemistry, shows how the team created an ink using this molecule that can reveal different messages depending on when you look at it. Under ultraviolet light, the text “1180” appears, but once the light is turned off, the word “IISc” becomes visible due to the molecule’s persistent glow. This feature could be valuable for security tagging and encryption.The molecule works through a process called phosphorescence, where light is emitted slowly due to specific changes in electron behaviour. This is typically difficult to achieve at room temperature because molecular movement usually wastes the energy before it can be released as light.To solve this problem, the researchers designed a rigid molecular structure that minimises energy loss. “The special bond between boron and nitrogen atoms gives the molecule unique properties that allow it to emit light efficiently at room temperature,” explained P Thilagar, professor at IPC and corresponding author of the study.The molecule also produces circularly polarised light, a property valuable for advanced display technologies and secure optical devices. “This is one of the most fascinating aspects of our molecule and particularly difficult to achieve with organic materials,” said Jusaina Eyyathiyil, the study’s first author.Creating the molecule required careful handling of reactive materials under strict conditions. “We had to work in an environment free from moisture and oxygen, using highly flammable chemicals at extremely low temperatures,” Eyyathiyil noted.The research team is now working to improve the molecule’s efficiency, which could expand its applications in electronic displays and medical imaging. “With careful design, we’re making progress in creating organic materials with multiple useful light-emitting properties,” Thilagar said.