Photoluminescent Carbon Nanostructures for Bulk Liquid Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tagging and authenticating bulk liquids are ineffective due to issues like high absorption and fluorescence overlap in certain liquids, toxicity of metallic quantum dots, and incompatibility with the bulk liquid, leading to challenges in identifying and authenticating the source of bulk working liquids.
Innovation Solution
The use of photoluminescent carbon nanostructures (PCNs) suspended in a continuous phase that is thermodynamically incompatible with the bulk liquid, incorporated at a concentration below the solubility limit and not visible to the naked eye, allowing for selective and specific identification and authentication through fluorescent emission spectra analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fluorescent tagging markers are used to identify bulk liquids, then the liquid can be detected and authenticated, but certain liquids like petrol-based hydrocarbons have high absorption and fluorescence at the same range causing detection interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of fluorescence emission wavelength from conventional ranges (400-600nm) to the near-infrared range (700-900nm). This parameter shift allows the tagging marker to operate in a spectral window where petrol-based hydrocarbons and other bulk liquids have minimal background fluorescence and absorption, thereby eliminating detection interference while maintaining high measurement precision for authentication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional fluorescent dyes and metallic quantum dots with carbon-based quantum dots that emit in the near-infrared region. This substitution fundamentally changes the detection mechanism by utilizing a different spectral domain where the bulk liquid does not interfere, effectively substituting the detection approach to avoid the harmful background fluorescence effect
2Measurement precision
If metallic quantum dots are used as tagging markers, then fluorescence detection is possible, but they are toxic and not cost-effective for bulk liquids like wines and olive oils
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs carbon-based quantum dots that are inexpensive to produce in bulk quantities compared to metallic quantum dots. These carbon dots can be synthesized from readily available carbon sources using simple thermal or chemical treatment, making them cost-effective for tagging large volumes of bulk liquids like wines and olive oils without compromising detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses carbon-based composite quantum dots with controlled size and surface properties to achieve near-infrared emission. These composite structures combine carbon cores with surface functional groups that enhance fluorescence quantum yield and stability, providing a non-toxic alternative to metallic quantum dots while maintaining or improving detection performance
3Measurement precision
If tagging markers are added to bulk liquids, then authentication is possible, but some markers are incompatible with the bulk working liquid
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the tagging marker from metallic or organic dye-based systems to carbon-based quantum dots. This fundamental material parameter change ensures compatibility with diverse bulk liquids including wines, olive oils, and other food products, as carbon dots are chemically inert, non-toxic, and do not react with or degrade the bulk liquid composition while maintaining authentication capability
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 method enables non-toxic, cost-effective identification and authentication of bulk liquids, including those with high background fluorescence or sensitivity to toxic markers, by utilizing PCNs with discrete peak emission wavelengths, effectively distinguishing authentic from non-authentic liquids.
Implementation Method 1
photoluminescent carbon nanostructures (PCNs) suspended in a continuous phase
Implementation Method 2
continuous phase that is thermodynamically incompatible with the bulk liquid sought to be tagged
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to systems, compositions and methods for tagging, identifying and authenticating bulk liquids. Specifically, the disclosure relates to methods, compositions and systems for selectively and specifically identifying bulk liquids as authentic using, as a tagging compound, photoluminescent carbon nanostructures (PCN's) suspended in a continuous phase that is thermodynamically incompatible with non-polar bulk liquid and/or substantially low concentration of PCNs; and incorporating the suspension into the liquid, wherein the suspension is incorporated at a concentration of continuous phase that is at least one of being below the solubility limit of the suspension's continuous phase in the bulk liquid and a concentration that cannot be observed unaided to the naked eye.