Nanodiamond PUF Material for Stable Optical Anti-Counterfeiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-counterfeiting technologies, particularly optical PUFs, lack stability in complex environments and are vulnerable to replication due to deterministic manufacturing processes, posing challenges for secure and reliable authentication.
Innovation Solution
Nanodiamond particles with silicon vacancy color centers are grown on a monocrystalline silicon substrate using a salt-assisted air oxidation and chemical vapor deposition method, providing ultra-stable and adjustable photoluminescence and light scattering signals for unique encoding, suitable for harsh environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wet chemical synthesis in solution is used to produce optical PUFs, then the optical properties can be adjusted, but the compatibility with microelectronic devices is poor and the primary product functionality is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wet chemical synthesis with a vacuum deposition process, substituting a chemical-based manufacturing method with a physical vapor deposition method. This eliminates the use of solutions and chemicals that are incompatible with microelectronic devices, while still enabling control over the optical properties of the PUF through controlled deposition parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum deposition process creates an inert environment during manufacturing, preventing chemical reactions and contamination that would occur in wet chemical synthesis. This inert atmosphere protects both the microelectronic devices and the PUF material during the fabrication process, ensuring compatibility and preserving primary product functionality
2Manufacturing precision
If deterministic manufacturing processes are used for anti-counterfeiting tags, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the security is worsened due to vulnerability to forgery attacks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces inherent asymmetry and randomness into the PUF structure through the vacuum deposition process, creating unique physical characteristics for each tag. This asymmetry ensures that no two tags are identical, making deterministic copying impossible while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled deposition parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The PUF properties are established during the preliminary vacuum deposition manufacturing process itself, rather than being added later. The random physical characteristics are built into the structure during fabrication, ensuring that the security features are inherent and cannot be replicated by subsequent deterministic processes
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing optical PUF materials are used, then the optical properties can be regulated in multiple dimensions, but the stability in complex environments is unsatisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure by depositing the PUF material directly onto the microelectronic device substrate, forming an integrated composite. This composite structure enhances stability in complex environments while maintaining the optical property regulation capabilities through the PUF layer's inherent characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The vacuum deposition process enables local control of the PUF material properties, allowing different regions to have optimized characteristics for both optical regulation and environmental stability. The deposition parameters can be adjusted locally to enhance stability in specific areas while maintaining overall optical versatility
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
The nanodiamond-based PUFs exhibit high randomness, multi-mode encryption capability, and robustness, enabling secure and stable anti-counterfeiting labels suitable for various environments, including harsh chemical, thermal, and mechanical conditions.
Implementation Method 1
silicon vacancy color centers around the 737 nm range exhibit near-infrared (NIR) light emission that is invisible to the naked eye but can be captured by most commercial cameras
Implementation Method 2
provide ultra-stable and adjustable photoluminescence and light scattering signals for unique encoding
Implementation Method 3
nanodiamond particles with silicon vacancy color centers are grown on a monocrystalline silicon substrate using a salt-assisted air oxidation and chemical vapor deposition method
Implementation Method 4
salt-assisted air oxidation
Implementation Method 5
heating in the air at 200-900° C. for 1 minute to 24 hours
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a nanodiamond based physical unclonable functional material, preparation method and applications thereof, comprising a single-crystal silicon substrate and nanodiamond with silicon vacancy color centers grown in situ thereon. The preparation method of nanodiamond particles on the silicon substrate is a stochastic process, which is an essential feature for manufacturing physical unclonable functional labels. The present invention uses scattering spectrum of nanodiamond, the morphological characteristics, and spatial position relationships as fingerprint information for the physical unclonable functional material. Due to the extreme heat resistance, mechanical, chemical and light stability of diamond material. The highly robust label of the present invention can satisfy the requirements of many practical applications in various environments. The present invention has huge applications. The present invention has real commercial value in the anti-counterfeiting market for electronic components, medical packaging, vehicles, luxury goods, etc.