Anti-Counterfeiting Ink developed using Luminescent Nanomaterials

  • 01 Nov 2024

In News:

  • A novel anti-counterfeiting ink has been developed using luminescent nanomaterials, which significantly enhances security in currency, certificates, medicines, and branded goods.
  • The ink utilizes the luminescent properties of rare earth ions and bismuth, enabling excitation-dependent luminescence under different light sources, providing a robust solution to combat counterfeiting.

Key Features:

  • Multi-Wavelength Luminescence:
    • The ink exhibits distinct colors when exposed to various wavelengths of light:
      • Vibrant blue under 365 nm UV light
      • Pink under 395 nm UV light
      • Orange-red under 980 nm near-infrared (NIR) light
    • These varying color emissions make it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate, as traditional covert tags are visible only under UV light and can be easily duplicated.
  • Enhanced Durability:
    • The ink remains effective under a wide range of conditions, including varying light, temperature, and humidity, ensuring long-term usability without degradation.
  • Simple Application Method:
    • The luminescent nanomaterials are synthesized through a co-precipitation method at 120°C.
    • The resulting nanomaterials are then mixed into commercially available PVC ink using sonication, allowing for easy dispersion of nanoparticles.
    • The ink is applied using screen printing to create patterns and texts that exhibit distinct color changes under different lighting conditions.
  • Security Features:
    • The ink combines rare earth ions with bismuth emissions, boosting its encryption and decryption capabilities. This creates a high level of security for applications on high-value items.

Applications:

  • Currency and Certificates: Enhances the authenticity of financial instruments and official documents.
  • Branded Goods: Protects products from counterfeiting and fraud.
  • Medicines: Helps verify the authenticity of pharmaceutical products, preventing the distribution of fake medicines.

Benefits:

  • Verification: Both consumers and manufacturers can easily verify the authenticity of products, providing an accessible solution to counterfeiting.
  • Practical Solution: The ink offers a practical, reliable, and non-invasive method for detecting counterfeit products, addressing a global challenge in various industries.