Lanthanide Upconverting Phosphors for High-Density Optical Barcodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for optically encoding objects are limited in generating a large number of unique codes, restricting the ability to uniquely identify a large number of samples due to broad emission peaks from organic dyes and quantum dots, which makes it difficult to deconvolute overlapping peaks and results in a maximum of 100 uniquely labeled samples.
Innovation Solution
The use of compositions comprising lanthanide materials with specific host, absorber, and emitter combinations that emit detectable electromagnetic radiation upon excitation, allowing for the generation of unique identifying codes through the analysis of relative emission intensities, and the inclusion of upconverting phosphors and fluorescent dyes or quantum dots to increase the number of available codes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If organic dyes or quantum dots are used as emitters, then the object can be optically encoded, but the broad emission peaks make it difficult to deconvolute overlapping peaks, limiting the number of unique codes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of emission linewidth by transitioning from organic dyes/quantum dots to lanthanide ions. Lanthanide ions exhibit narrow emission peaks due to f-f transitions being shielded by outer electron shells, which fundamentally resolves the peak overlap problem and enables hundreds of resolvable codes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material systems where lanthanide ions are embedded in suitable host matrices (such as glasses, crystals, or nanoparticles). This composite approach allows optimization of both the emission properties (narrow peaks from lanthanides) and the overall material performance (stability, solubility, processability from the host material)
2Loss of information
If two or more emitting components are mixed to create desired emission ratios, then unique optical codes can be generated, but the broad overlapping peaks make deconvolution difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spectral parameter of emission linewidth by using lanthanide ions with naturally narrow emission peaks. This parameter change eliminates the need for complex deconvolution algorithms because the narrow peaks remain distinct even when multiple components are present, preserving information and simplifying analysis
3Quantity of substance
If the most extensive commercial code uses two dyes, then 100 samples can be labeled uniquely, but this limits the number of uniquely identifiable samples
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spectral resolution parameter by adopting lanthanide ions with narrow emission lines. This enables the system to resolve hundreds of different emission ratios simultaneously, increasing the encoding capacity from 100 to over 100,000 unique codes and greatly enhancing system versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent effectively adds a dimension to the encoding space by utilizing the narrow spectral lineshapes of lanthanides. This spectral dimension allows for much finer discrimination between different emission ratios, enabling a vastly larger number of unique codes compared to the two-dye system
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the identification of a significantly larger number of unique samples, with a binary mixture allowing for over 300 codes, a ternary mixture identifying 90,000 samples, and a quintary mixture identifying 6x10^9 samples, while minimizing redundancy and interference with organic dye systems.
Implementation Method 1
Methods and compositions for optically encoding an object or sample using upconverting phosphors are provided
Implementation Method 2
Each lanthanide material comprises a host, an absorber, and one or more emitters, and the materials emit detectable electromagnetic radiation upon excitation with absorbable electromagnetic energy
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates generally to encoding samples. More specifically, it relates to barcodes and compositions involving upconverters and methods including them. In a composition aspect of the invention, a composition comprising two or more lanthanide materials is provided. Each lanthanide material comprises a host, an absorber, and an emitter, and the materials emit detectable electromagnetic radiation upon excitation with absorbable electromagnetic energy. One or more relative ratios of emission intensities uniquely identify the composition.