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Updated: Jul 31, 2026
11:04
Biomolecular Detection employing the Interferometric Reflectance Imaging Sensor IRIS
Published on: May 3, 2011
14.8K
Bio-Inspired Structural Color Irises as Physical Unclonable Functions for Anti-Counterfeiting
Kongyu Ge1, Yiming Hu2, Jiangnan Yan1
1Sauvage Laboratory for Smart Materials, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Flexible Printed Electronics Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518000, China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|July 10, 2025
Summary
This study introduces a novel, cost-effective anti-counterfeiting system using colloidal photonic crystals and iris recognition. It offers high-accuracy, multi-layered security for premium products without specialized equipment.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Optics
- Computer Vision
Background:
- Growing demand for anti-counterfeiting solutions due to global trade in high-value goods.
- Existing Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) face challenges in accuracy, security levels, and equipment costs.
- Need for advanced, accessible authentication technologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a multi-layered optical anti-counterfeiting system using colloidal photonic crystals.
- To overcome limitations of current PUF implementations.
- To create a cost-effective, high-performance solution for premium product authentication.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of PUF anti-counterfeiting patterns using colloidal photonic crystals (macro-to-micro scale).
- Integration with iris recognition algorithms for a structural color iris-based system.
- Modulation of the 'coffee ring' effect to control photonic crystal patterns ('Ring'-type and 'Dot'-type).
Main Results:
- Demonstration of 'Ring'-type colloidal photonic crystals originating from the 'coffee ring' effect.
- Successful control over pattern size and type by modulating the 'coffee ring' effect.
- PUF codes derived from 'Ring'-type photonic crystal images confirmed unique and readable.
- Construction of a three-component anti-counterfeiting system.
Conclusions:
- The developed system provides a cost-effective, low-threshold, high-performance structural color anti-counterfeiting solution.
- The multi-layered approach enhances security for premium products.
- This method addresses key limitations of existing PUF technologies.
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