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Light-Emitting Atomically Precise Nanocluster-Based Flexible QR Codes for Anticounterfeiting
Jose V Rival1,2, Paloli Mymoona1,2, Rajendran Vinoth2,3
1Smart Materials Lab, Electrochemical Power Sources (ECPS) Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), Karaikudi 630003, Tamil Nadu, India.
Researchers developed a low-cost, stable luminescent ink using atomically precise nanoclusters for anticounterfeiting security labels. This novel ink enables secure printing and smartphone-based verification, offering a reliable solution to global counterfeiting challenges.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Optics
Background:
- Advanced anticounterfeiting methods face cost and reliability issues.
- Light-emitting atomically precise nanoclusters offer well-defined structures and stable photoluminescence.
- Nanoclusters are promising building blocks for novel security applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a low-cost, stable, and flexible luminescent ink for anticounterfeiting.
- To create optically unclonable security labels using stencil printing.
- To demonstrate smartphone-based reading and secure information protection.
Main Methods:
- Room temperature fabrication of nanocluster-based luminescent ink.
- Stencil printing of security labels.
- Spectroscopic and microscopic characterization of nanocluster stability.
- Testing mechanical, thermal, photo, and aqueous stability.
- Implementation of optical contrast illusion for information decryption.
Main Results:
- A stable, flexible, nontoxic, and low-cost nanocluster-based luminescent ink was successfully fabricated.
- The ink exhibits brilliant photoluminescence due to extended C-H···π/π···π interactions.
- Printed security labels demonstrated exceptional stability and allowed for smartphone-based reading of QR codes.
- Confidential information protection and decryption were achieved using optical contrast illusion.
- The security label cost is approximately $0.013 USD per stamp.
Conclusions:
- Atomically precise nanoclusters provide a robust platform for advanced anticounterfeiting solutions.
- The developed luminescent ink and security labels offer a cost-effective and reliable method for combating counterfeiting.
- This technology enables secure, verifiable, and easily accessible anticounterfeiting measures.
