Anti-counterfeiting Solution Research Articles

Opto/Thermoresponsive Multimode Luminescence in Eu- and Er-Activated CaF2 Phosphor for High-Security Anticounterfeiting.

As the landscape of information storage and security continues to evolve, the deployment of sophisticated anticounterfeiting strategies with robust security features and multimodal luminescent capabilities becomes imperative. In this work, Eu3+ and Er3+ ions are codoped into CaF2 phosphors to achieve multimodel optical output. The self-reduction of Eu3+ within the CaF2 matrix gives rise to the coexistence of Eu3+ and Eu2+ ions, which manifests as a color transition from orange to blue as the excitation wavelength is varied from 300 to 335 nm. Moreover, the distinct temperature-dependent behaviors of Eu3+ and Eu2+ ions underscore the material's visible temperature-sensitive luminescence properties, characterized by remarkable thermal sensitivity (Sa = 0.0156 K-1, Sr = 0.83%K-1). Additionally, the strategic introduction of Er3+ ions adds an extra dimension, enabling the realization of color-tunable upconversion luminescence through the fine-tuning of Er3+ concentration. This synergistic integration culminates in the establishment of an efficient three-path authentication model within the CaF2 host matrix, facilitating a dynamic multicolor response to changes in the excitation wavelength and temperature. By harnessing these diverse luminescent modalities, the study delivers a versatile and potent anticounterfeiting solution, advancing the frontiers of information security.

Colored thermal camouflage and anti-counterfeiting with programmable In3SbTe2 platform.

Camouflage is an important technology in various scenarios. Usually, this involves the visible compatibility of the background, which however is facile under infrared thermal radiation detection. The simultaneous visible and thermal camouflage are challenging because it requires full and decoupled manipulations of visible reflection and infrared emissivity using one single device, letalone to its adaptivity to complex environments. Here, we report a programmable, colored thermal camouflage at 3-5 μm and 8-14 μm based on mode coupling in phase-change In3SbTe2 materials. A series of industry-friendly colored multilayer thermal emitters are designed consisting of an anti-reflectance layer for structure coloration above a coupled nanocavity for IR modulation, which easily realizes the complete decoupled control of visible color and infrared emissivity. Our solution features independent structural visible colors in the full visible range and continuously programmable dual-band emissivity modulation with up to 90 % absolute tuning range. Our work facilitates near optimal camouflage and anti-counterfeiting solution for visible-infrared multi-band compatibility of complex environments under different temperatures and colored appearances.

Preparation of polylactic acid reinforced with cellulose nanofibers toward photochromic self-healing adhesive for anti-counterfeiting applications

There are a number of drawbacks with photochromic adhesives, including their poor durability, high price tag, and lackluster performance. On the other hand, self-healable adhesives have shown to be durable and robust than conventional alternatives. Hydrogel adhesives that change color in response to ultraviolet light were created for usage in self-healable authenticating stamps. In this context, a combination of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), polylactic acid (PLA) and nanoparticles of lanthanide aluminate (NLA) were prepared to generate an organic-inorganic hybrid hydrogel adhesive with self-healing properties. NLA agglomerates were avoided due to the use of CNFs as a nanofiller and dispersion agent. Colorless stamps require that NLA to be dispersed consistently in the CNFs/PLA hydrogel without clumping. This film becomes green when irradiated with ultraviolet, as indicated by luminescence spectra and CIE Lab coordinates. When illuminated at 365 nm, the paper sheets emitted light with a wavelength of 519 nm. The morphologies of prints were analyzed by different analytical methods. Diameter measurements from a transmission electron microscope (TEM) of the synthesized NLA ranged from 5 to 9 nm, whereas CNFs displayed diameters of 40–60 nm. The current NLA@CNFs/PLA hydrogel presents a reliable anti-counterfeiting solution for various authenticating products.

Fabrication of highly flexible luminescent films, hydro gels and anti-counterfeiting applications of La2MoO6:Sm3+ phosphors

Fabrication of versatile luminescent materials with remarkable quantum yield holds significant importance across various applications. In this context, a series of (1–11 mol %) Sm3+ activated La2MoO6 nanophosphors (LMO:Sm3+ NPs) has been developed. These nanophosphors, denoted as LMO:Sm3+ NPs, serve as a multifunctional platform with applications spanning white LED technology, flexible displays, hydro-gels, and anti-counterfeiting (AC) measures. These phosphors emit a vibrant orange-red light at 601 nm when excited at 402 nm owing to the Sm3+ ions 4G5/2 → 6H7/2 transition, achieving a high quantum yield of 66.2 %. The optimal doping concentration of Sm3+ ions in the LMO host material is identified as 5 mol %, with concentration quenching primarily attributed to electric multi-polar interaction. Remarkably, the newly fabricated LMO:Sm3+ phosphors exhibit a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 2064 K and maintain excellent color stability. Moreover, a transparent AC film is created using the optimized phosphor and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), offering effective AC capabilities through their orange-red emission when exposed to 365 nm UV light. Notably, these phosphors exhibit sustainability, exceptional flexibility, and foldability, expanding their potential applications in the field of AC. These results underscore the potential of LMO:Sm3+ NPs as highly efficient luminescent platforms, catering to a wide range of applications, including white LED's, flexible display devices, hydro-gels, and AC solutions.

Food Supply Chain and Blockchain: Bibliometric Analysis

Food is a fundamental phenomenon for mankind. Nowadays, the number of people who approach food more selectively is increasing. They want information about the food they consume be accessible. Details such as the production time and producer of the food, whether it is served at a fair pricing and its content are all matters the consumers feel curious about. With the ability to create immutable data, blockchain technology can respond to consumer demands from the agricultural supply chain. Blockchain provides traceability and anti-counterfeiting solutions in the agricultural supply chain. Due to the fact that blockchain technology is becoming more and more popular in the agricultural supply chain, the level of its academic interest is also increasing. In order to reveal the characteristics of academic interest in the subject, an inquiry was conducted on the topic of food supply chain and blockchain in the Web of Science (WoS) database. The publications obtained at the end of the inquiry were classified under such headings as category, country and publication type. In addition, bibliometric analysis was performed on the publications obtained.

Versatile Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2) Sol-Gel Development for the Micro-Structuring of Various Substrates (Nature and Shape) by Optical and Nano-Imprint Lithography

Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) is a well-studied and promising material due to its remarkable chemical and physical properties. It is used, for example, in coatings for corrosion protection layer, wear and oxidation, in optical applications (mirror, filters), for decorative components, for anti-counterfeiting solutions and for medical applications. ZrO2 can be obtained as a thin film using different deposition methods such as physical vapor deposition (PVD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). These techniques are mastered but they do not allow easy micro-nanostructuring of these coatings due to the intrinsic properties (high melting point, mechanical and chemical resistance). An alternative approach described in this paper is the sol-gel method, which allows direct micro-nanostructuring of the ZrO2 layers without physical or chemical etching processes, using optical or nano-imprint lithography. In this paper, the authors present a complete and suitable ZrO2 sol-gel method allowing to achieve complex micro-nanostructures by optical or nano-imprint lithography on substrates of different nature and shape (especially non-planar and foil-based substrates). The synthesis of the ZrO2 sol-gel is presented as well as the micro-nanostructuring process by masking, colloidal lithography and nano-imprint lithography on glass and plastic substrates as well as on plane and curved substrates.

Water-based combifuge ink with unique tamper-evident features for anti-counterfeiting applications

Unique characteristics of pigments in printing inks are essential in achieving multi-level security features in genuine articles to combat counterfeiting. This study reports the synthesis and characterisation of 6-bromo-5-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione (BHENA) as a biocompatible and thermally stable pigment with attractive features for anti-counterfeiting application. A water-based stable ink was formulated using BHENA pigment and printed on security paper using flexography technique. The homogeneous pale-yellow print dried fast, and displayed good rub-resistance as well as light-fastness. The print proofs demonstrated captivating fluorescence responses upon exposure to different solvents and sodium hydroxide, when viewed under 365 nm ultraviolet (UV) light source, which could provide clear evidence for document tampering. Moreover, a remarkable penetrating fluorescence that show through the rear side of the print can be a novel add-on security feature. The combifuge eco-friendly luminescent ink can thus impart robust tamper-evident security features, especially penetrating UV fluorescence even with minimal pigment concentration, in cheques, legal or confidential documents, certificates, merchandise and electronic barcodes to avoid duplication or sale of fake products. Further, the electrical features and surface morphology analysis of the prints advocate the suitability of formulated water-based ink to achieve low-voltage-driven organic thin-film transistors on security documents and banknotes for anti-forgery applications. Furthermore, an ultra-high frequency organic- Radio frequency identification antenna resonating at 1.03 GHz has been designed and simulated as yet another anti-counterfeiting solution. The antenna has the advantage of compact size, better impedance matching and suitable radiation characteristics, thereby making it as a very competitive candidate for appropriate applications.

A Novel Steganography-Based Pattern for Print Matter Anti-Counterfeiting by Smartphone Cameras.

Print matter authentication based on anti-counterfeiting techniques has received continuously increasing concern from academia and industry. However, the existing printing anti-counterfeiting solutions often have the defects of poor identification experience, high cost, or weak anti-counterfeiting ability, and cannot achieve pre-sale anti-counterfeiting. Therefore, a novel steganography-based pattern for print matter anti-counterfeiting by smartphone cameras is proposed in this study. Firstly, every pixel in the original binary message image (such as QR code) is replaced by a square pixel block with the same binary gray value of 0 or 255 (the first-level expansion). Secondly, the obtained image is encrypted based on the logistic chaotic sequence, and then scrambled by Arnold transform. Lastly, once again every pixel in the generated image is replaced with a square pixel block (the second-level expansion), the size and gray value of which can be set to control the semi-fragile ability to distinguish an originally printed pattern from its illegitimate copy. If the message extracted from the printed pattern through the inverse procedure is complete enough to decode and read, the pattern is assumed to be an original print. Experimental results verify the advancement and effectiveness of the proposed scheme in distinguishing the copied pattern.

Toward Blockchain-Enabled Supply Chain Anti-Counterfeiting and Traceability

Existing product anti-counterfeiting and traceability solutions across today’s internationally spanning supply chain networks are indeed developed and implemented with centralized system architecture relying on centralized authorities or intermediaries. Vulnerabilities of centralized product anti-counterfeiting solutions could possibly lead to system failure or susceptibility of malicious modifications performed on product records or various potential attacks to the system components by dishonest participant nodes traversing along the supply chain. Blockchain technology has progressed from simply being a use case of immutable ledger for cryptocurrency transactions, to a programmable interactive environment of developing decentralized and reliable applications addressing different use cases globally. Key areas of decentralization, fundamental system requirements, and feasible mechanisms of developing decentralized product anti-counterfeiting and traceability ecosystems utilizing blockchain technology are identified in this research, via a series of security analyses performed against solutions currently implemented in supply chain industry with centralized architecture. The decentralized solution will be a secure and immutable scientific data provenance tracking and management platform where provenance records, providing compelling properties on data integrity of luxurious goods, are recorded and verified automatically across the supply chain.

An Anti-Counterfeiting Architecture for Traceability System Based on Modified Two-Level Quick Response Codes

Traceability is considered a promising solution for product safety. However, the data in the traceability system is only a claim rather than a fact. Therefore, the quality and safety of the product cannot be guaranteed since we cannot ensure the authenticity of products (aka counterfeit detection) in the real world. In this paper, we focus on counterfeit detection for the traceability system. The risk of counterfeiting throughout a typical product life cycle in the supply chain is analyzed, and the corresponding requirements for the tags, packages, and traceability system are given to eliminate these risks. Based on the analysis, an anti-counterfeiting architecture for traceability system based on two-level quick response codes (2LQR codes) is proposed, where the problem of counterfeit detection for a product is transformed into the problem of copy detection for the 2LQR code tag. According to the characteristics of the traceability system, the generation progress of the 2LQR code is modified, and there is a corresponding improved algorithm to estimate the actual location of patterns in the scanned image of the modified 2LQR code tag to improve the performance of copy detection. A prototype system based on the proposed architecture is implemented, where the consumers can perform traceability information queries by scanning the 2LQR code on the product package with any QR code reader. They can also scan the 2LQR code with a home-scanner or office-scanner, and send the scanned image to the system to perform counterfeit detection. Compared with other anti-counterfeiting solutions, the proposed architecture has advantages of low cost, generality, and good performance. Therefore, it is a promising solution to replace the existing anti-counterfeiting system.

A Watermarking Technique to Secure Printed Matrix Barcode—Application for Anti-Counterfeit Packaging

Counterfeiting of consumer goods is a critical problem which causes various negative impacts for consumers, enterprises and the whole economic ecosystem. Anti-counterfeit labels and packaging is one of the main solutions to help enterprises protect their brand against this concern. In this paper, we introduced a novel watermarking technique, which embeds a particular random micro-texture into a matrix barcode and transforms this one into a security layer for making packaging anti-counterfeited. The secured matrix barcode is hard to be reproduced by counterfeiters. In fact, any degradations caused by the counterfeiting process will change the statistical behaviors of the embedded micro-texture. Statistical detectors based on the hypothesis testing framework are also introduced to classify authentic and counterfeited printed barcodes. Experimental results confirm the usability and the effectiveness of the proposed anti-counterfeiting solution.

CH3NH3PbBr3 Perovskite Nanocrystals Encapsulated in Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks as a Photoluminescence Converter for Anti-Counterfeiting.

The increasing demands for optical anti-counterfeiting technology require the development of versatile luminescent materials with multiple models and tunable photoluminescence. Herein, the combination of luminescent perovskite nanocrystals and lanthanide-based metal-organic frameworks (Ln-MOFs) has been developed to offer such a high-tech anti-counterfeiting solution. The hybrid materials have been fabricated via the encapsulation of perovskite CH3NH3PbBr3 nanocrystals in europium-based metal-organic frameworks (Eu-MOFs) and they display multistage anti-counterfeiting behavior. CH3NH3PbBr3@Eu-MOF hybrids were developed in a two-step process, where the PbBr2@Eu-MOF precursor was formed first and, then, the composites can be formed quickly by the addition of CH3NH3Br into the precursors. Accordingly, the hybrid composites exhibited both excitation wavelength and temperature-dependent luminescence properties in the form of powders or films. Furthermore, the photoluminescence of the CH3NH3PbBr3@Eu-MOF composites can be quenched and recovered through water immersion and CH3NH3Br conversion, and the anti-counterfeiting applications have also been discussed. Therefore, this finding will open the opportunity to fabricate the hybrid materials with controlled photoluminescence properties, and it also acts as the emerging anti-counterfeiting materials in versatile fields.

Anti-counterfeiting solutions launched by PolyOne and PCC

Counterfeiting is of increasing concern to manufacturers of all manner of everyday consumer goods, as well as of high-risk items such as electronics and medical products and goods for the automotive and aviation sectors. In recent years, a number of polymer additive manufacturers, including Ampacet, Addmaster, Silvergate, Sanitized and GRAFE, have developed tracer or taggant products for plastics to help manufacturers and retailers to protect brand identity and ensure supply chain integrity. Plastics Color Corp (PCC) and PolyOne Corp are the latest entrants to this market sector.

Towards Practical Identification of HF RFID Devices

The deployment of RFID poses a number of security and privacy threats such as cloning, unauthorized tracking, etc. Although the literature contains many investigations of these issues on the logical level, few works have explored the security implications of the physical communication layer. Recently, related studies have shown the feasibility of identifying RFID-enabled devices based on physical-layer fingerprints. In this work, we leverage on these findings and demonstrate that physical-layer identification of HF RFID devices is also practical, that is, can achieve high accuracy and stability. We propose an improved hardware setup and enhanced techniques for fingerprint extraction and matching. Our new system enables device identification with an Equal Error Rate as low as 0.005 (0.5%) on a set 50 HF RFID smart cards of the same manufacturer and type. We further investigate the fingerprint stability over an extended period of time and across different acquisition setups. In the latter case, we propose a solution based on channel equalization that preserves the fingerprint quality across setups. Our results strengthen the practical use of physical-layer identification of RFID devices in product and document anti-counterfeiting solutions.

Life Technologies and Nanosys introduce anti-counterfeiting solutions

Life Technologies and Nanosys introduce anti-counterfeiting solutions