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Atomic-scale physical unclonable functions in solids
Zihua Chai1, Zeyu Gao1, Mengqi Wang1,2
1Laboratory of Spin Magnetic Resonance, School of Physical Sciences, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Scientific Instrument Development and Application, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
Science Advances
|March 18, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed atomic-scale Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) using intrinsic randomness in solids. This novel approach offers enhanced security and unclonability for next-generation hardware and information systems.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Computer Science
- Quantum Physics
Background:
- The digital era and Internet of Things (IoT) demand secure hardware.
- Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) offer hardware-based security using unique labels.
- Nanofabrication advances challenge conventional PUF unclonability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore fundamental sources of physical randomness for enhanced PUF security.
- To demonstrate an atomic-scale PUF architecture.
- To leverage intrinsic randomness in solids via lattice and defect engineering.
Main Methods:
- Developed an atomic-scale PUF architecture.
- Utilized lattice and defect engineering in solids.
- Analyzed PUF properties including spatial variability and configurational complexity.
Main Results:
- Achieved atomic-scale PUFs with 3D spatial variability and atomic-scale configurational complexity.
- Demonstrated extraordinary encoding space and uniqueness.
- Estimated Shannon entropy of 17.49 for a 1 nm feature size, indicating high encoding capacity.
- Embedded structure ensures intrinsic unclonability and robustness.
Conclusions:
- Atomic-scale PUFs represent a fundamentally secure and scalable platform.
- This technology is suitable for next-generation hardware and information security.
- Intrinsic randomness in solids offers a robust solution against environmental perturbations.
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