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Related Concept Videos

X-ray Crystallography02:18

X-ray Crystallography

The size of the unit cell and the arrangement of atoms in a crystal may be determined from measurements of the diffraction of X-rays by the crystal, termed X-ray crystallography.
Diffraction
Diffraction is the change in the direction of travel experienced by an electromagnetic wave when it encounters a physical barrier whose dimensions are comparable to those of the wavelength of the light. X-rays are electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths about as long as the distance between neighboring...
X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples01:10

X-ray Diffraction of Biological Samples

X-ray diffraction or XRD is an analytical tool that utilizes X-rays to study ordered structures such as crystalline organic and inorganic samples, polycrystalline materials, proteins, carbohydrates, and drugs.
According to Bragg's law, when X-rays strike the sample positioned on a stage, the rays are  scattered by the electron clouds around the sample atoms. The  X-ray diffraction or scattering is caused by constructive interference of the X-ray waves that reflect off the internal crystal...
Determination of Crystal Structures01:29

Determination of Crystal Structures

In the late 1800s, the revelation that light extended beyond visible wavelengths led to the discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Roentgen. Recognized as high-energy electromagnetic radiation with short wavelengths, X-rays prompted exploration into their interaction with crystals. Max von Laue proposed in 1912 that the periodic arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in crystals would cause them to diffract X-rays, a hypothesis confirmed through experiments with copper sulfate and zinc sulfide...
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects01:25

Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Point, Line and Plane Defects

A perfect crystal, in theory, has a uniform structure with the same unit cell and lattice points throughout. However, any deviation from this periodic arrangement is known as an imperfection or defect. These defects can be categorized into three types: point, line, and plane defects.Point defects occur when there is a deviation from the ideal due to missing atoms, displaced atoms, or additional atoms. These imperfections might occur due to imperfect packing during crystallization or because of...
Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Stoichiometric Point Defects01:26

Imperfections in Crystal Structure: Stoichiometric Point Defects

Schottky defects arise when some lattice points in a crystal, such as those in NaCl, remain unoccupied, creating lattice vacancies without disturbing the overall electrical neutrality of the crystal. This defect is common in ionic crystals where the positive and negative ions are similar in size, as seen in sodium chloride and cesium chloride. The presence of Schottky defects enables the crystal to conduct electricity to a small extent through an ionic mechanism. Electric fields cause nearby...
Microcracking in Concrete01:20

Microcracking in Concrete

Microcracking in concrete refers to the tiny cracks that can form within the material even before any external load is applied. These microcracks typically occur at the interface between the coarse aggregate and the hydrated cement paste, often as a result of differential volume changes prompted by variations in stress-strain behavior, as well as thermal and moisture movement. Initially, these microcracks remain stable and do not grow substantially until the concrete is stressed to about 30...

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Growing Protein Crystals with Distinct Dimensions Using Automated Crystallization Coupled with In Situ Dynamic Light Scattering
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Cracking enabled unclonability in colloidal crystal patterns authenticated with computer vision.

Yuhuan Li1, Yexin Mao2, Jiahui Wang1

  • 1Key Laboratory of Inorganic Nanomaterials of Hebei Province, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, P. R. China. zhoujm@iccas.ac.cn.

Nanoscale
|June 13, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cracks in colloidal crystals, previously a defect, are now used as unique codes for anti-counterfeiting. This innovation offers advanced, multi-mode security features for enhanced product protection.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Optics

Background:

  • Colloidal crystals exhibit structural coloration for applications in sensors, displays, and anti-counterfeiting.
  • Facile self-assembly of colloidal crystals often results in uncontrolled cracking, a significant challenge.
  • Previous efforts focused on preventing cracks, overlooking their potential utility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To utilize random micro-cracks in colloidal crystals as physically unclonable functions (PUFs) for tamper-proof anti-counterfeiting.
  • To develop multi-modal anti-counterfeiting strategies leveraging colloidal crystal properties.
  • To introduce a fluorescent anti-counterfeiting mode using crack templates.

Main Methods:

  • Self-assembly of poly(styrene-methyl methacrylate-acrylic acid) core-shell nanospheres into colloidal crystals.
  • Exploitation of angle-dependent structural colors and polarization anisotropy for anti-counterfeiting.
  • Template-guided deposition of fluorescent silica nanoparticles within micro-cracks.
  • Development of a computer vision algorithm for validating crack-based PUFs.

Main Results:

  • Random micro-cracks in colloidal crystals were successfully implemented as unclonable codes.
  • Multi-anti-counterfeiting modes were achieved, including structural color, polarization anisotropy, and fluorescent PUFs.
  • A computer vision approach demonstrated ~100% accuracy in verifying fluorescent micro-crack PUFs.
  • The developed materials offer superior decorative functions compared to conventional anti-counterfeiting methods.

Conclusions:

  • Random micro-cracks in colloidal crystals can be repurposed as valuable features for advanced anti-counterfeiting.
  • The combination of structural coloration and crack-based PUFs creates robust, multi-modal security solutions.
  • Computer-vision verifiable, physically unclonable colloidal crystals represent a novel direction for high-security materials.