Water-Insoluble Quantum Dot Patterns for Anti-Counterfeiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current security elements used to prevent counterfeiting are easily identifiable and can be imitated, leading to increased risks of product and brand piracy, particularly in paper and consumer goods, as they are often visible to the naked eye and not resistant to mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a water-insoluble pattern on or within a substrate using a deliquescent salt, quantum dots, and an acid or its salt, which forms a stable network that is difficult to identify visually but can be easily verified, offering resistance to mechanical stress and various optical fingerprint features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional security elements are used, then verification capability is provided, but they are easily identifiable and can be imitated by counterfeiters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs quantum dots that exhibit size-dependent optical properties and fluorescence characteristics. By controlling the size and composition of quantum dots, the security element displays specific colors and optical signatures that are difficult to replicate with conventional materials, thereby improving counterfeit protection while maintaining verification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes可调 optical parameters of quantum dots including size, composition, and surface properties to create security features with specific emission wavelengths and fluorescence lifetimes. These parameter variations enable differentiation from conventional security elements and provide multiple verification modes that are difficult to imitate.
2Ease of operation
If visible security elements are used, then verification is possible, but they can be easily recognised by counterfeiters
Solution Approach 1:
The quantum dots exhibit fluorescence properties that allow verification under specific lighting conditions while remaining invisible or indistinguishable under normal viewing conditions. This enables easy verification by authorized personnel using appropriate excitation sources while preventing detection and copying by counterfeiters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical or chemical security features with quantum dot-based optical verification systems. The verification process uses optical excitation and detection rather than mechanical inspection, enabling remote and non-contact verification while making the security feature invisible to conventional detection methods.
3Ease of manufacture
If paper-based security features are used, then marking is possible, but they are not resistant to mechanical stress and repulping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates quantum dots into composite material systems that include encapsulation matrices and adhesive binders. This composite structure provides both the marking capability of paper-based systems and enhanced mechanical strength, water resistance, and durability against stress and repulping attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The quantum dots are encapsulated in protective thin-film matrices that provide mechanical protection while maintaining flexibility for application on various substrates. This encapsulation layer protects the quantum dots from mechanical stress, water, and chemical degradation while allowing for easy application and verification.
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 method creates a reliable, hidden security element that is resistant to mechanical stress and can be designed for specific applications, providing enhanced protection against counterfeiting by being difficult to replicate visually while allowing for easy verification.
Implementation Method 1
providing a deliquescent salt
Implementation Method 2
the ink exhibits a quantum yield greater than 30%, and a photoluminescence which has a lifetime of more than 40 nanoseconds
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for producing water-insoluble quantum dot patterns on and/or within a substrate. The method comprises a step of depositing a deliquescent salt, quantum dots and an acid or salt thereof onto at least one surface region of a substrate such that the deliquescent salt, the quantum dots and the acid or salt thereof are at least partially contacted to form said at least one water-insoluble pattern.