PbS Quantum Dots Based on Physically Unclonable Function for Ultra High-Density Key Generation

Abstract

Secure data encryption depends on the one-way functions and copy protection relies on features that are hard to reproduce. Herein, we present the physically unclonable function (PUF) concept based on PbS quantum dots (QDS) for ultra high-density key generation. Compared with existing PUFs, the proposed QDs-based PUF may boost the key density by about an order of magnitude, and also has certain advantages in terms of uniqueness, randomness and spatial characteristics. The proposed PUF passes applicable National Institute of Standards and Technology randomness tests. The area/bit is 14.5 nm2 for PbS QDs-based PUF1, 54.76 nm2 for PbS QDs-based PUF2, respectively. Compared with optical PUF, it improves the key density about 9.6 times and 2.3 times, respectively. Further, PbS QDs-based PUF1 and PbS QDs-based PUF2 demonstrate the larger data spaces and the read data has better spatial characteristics and uniqueness. We anticipate the QDs-based PUF circuit would shed light on future research of circuit design and information security technology.