Properties of Micro-nano Materials
Unique Optical Properties: Some micro-nano materials possess special optical characteristics, such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, scattering, and absorption. For instance, certain fluorescent nanoparticles will emit fluorescence of unique colors when excited by light of specific wavelengths, and different types of fluorescent nanoparticles have distinct luminescent properties. By adding these fluorescent nanoparticles to anti-counterfeiting inks or coatings, the made anti-counterfeiting labels may appear no different from ordinary labels under normal light. However, when illuminated by ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength or other exciting light, specific fluorescent patterns or texts will be revealed, thus achieving anti-counterfeiting.
With these unique optical properties of the material, it can be distinguished from other materials, forming a characteristic feature. Since it is distinguishable from other materials, it won’t be easily imitated, and thus has the characteristic of anti-counterfeiting.
Special Physical Properties: The physical properties of micro-nano materials, such as magnetism and conductivity, can also be used for anti-counterfeiting. For example, magnetic nanoparticles can be made into anti-counterfeiting materials with specific magnetic characteristics, which can be identified and verified by magnetic detection devices. This anti-counterfeiting technology based on physical properties has high stability and is difficult to replicate.
Design of Micro-nano Structures
Surface Micro-structures: Patterns or textures with specific micro-structures are fabricated on the surface of objects through micro-nano processing technologies such as photolithography and etching. These micro-structures can only be observed under an optical microscope or an electron microscope. Their fineness and complexity make them difficult to be precisely replicated. For example, micron-scale line patterns or nano-scale pit structures are created on anti-counterfeiting labels. These structures can produce unique optical effects, such as the rainbow effect and diffraction effect, through the reflection and refraction of light, thus achieving anti-counterfeiting. The design of nano-technology uses extremely fine designs, which are distinct from any other design, and thus achieves the anti-counterfeiting effect.
Three-dimensional Nano-structures: Advanced nano-fabrication technologies are used to construct three-dimensional nano-structures, such as nano-column arrays and nano-pore arrays. These three-dimensional nano-structures can achieve special regulation of physical quantities such as light, electricity, and magnetism by precisely controlling their size, shape, and arrangement. For example, an optical anti-counterfeiting structure based on a nano-column array can achieve selective reflection and scattering of light of different wavelengths by controlling the height, diameter, and spacing of the nano-columns, thus producing gorgeous color changes. Such complex three-dimensional nano-structures are very difficult to counterfeit.
Micro-nano Printing Technology
High-precision Printing: Micro-nano printing technology can achieve ultra-high-resolution pattern printing, printing anti-counterfeiting patterns or information on the surface of products or packaging with a precision of micrometers or even nanometers. For example, inkjet printing technology can precisely eject nanoscale ink particles to the specified positions to form fine patterns. This high-precision printing technology not only improves the clarity and complexity of anti-counterfeiting patterns but also gives the patterns better durability and scratch resistance.
Invisible Printing: Invisible printing effects are achieved by using special micro-nano inks and printing processes. For example, printing with infrared-absorbing inks or ultraviolet fluorescent inks makes the printed content invisible under normal light, but clear patterns or texts will be revealed when illuminated by infrared light or ultraviolet light. In addition, the optical nonlinear properties of micro-nano materials can also be utilized to make the invisible patterns appear through special laser irradiation, further enhancing the anti-counterfeiting effect.
Information Encryption and Coding
Nano-coding Technology: Nano-materials are used as information carriers, and information encoding and storage are achieved by controlling the physical properties or surface modification of nano-materials. For example, nano-particles of different sizes or shapes are used to represent different numbers or letters. Arranging these nano-particles in a certain order on the anti-counterfeiting label can form a unique code. This nano-code has extremely high information density and concealment, and can only be read and decoded through specific detection equipment and algorithms. Using nano-encryption technology means adding technology on top of technology. The combination of these two technologies makes it less likely to be cracked. Besides, more complex technologies and encodings can be used to make the technology more advanced, so that other enterprises cannot break through this anti-counterfeiting measure.
Encryption Algorithm and Authentication: Combining the principles of modern cryptography, the micro-nano anti-counterfeiting information is encrypted. Through the use of specific encryption algorithms, the anti-counterfeiting information is transformed into an encrypted form that is difficult to crack and stored in micro-nano structures or materials. During the product verification process, the corresponding decryption algorithm and key are required to read and verify the authenticity of the anti-counterfeiting information. This way of combining encryption technology with micro-nano anti-counterfeiting technology greatly improves the security and reliability of the anti-counterfeiting system. With the increasing development of technology, of course, more and more high-tech applications will be introduced into the field of anti-counterfeiting. Therefore, high-tech should be utilized as much as possible for processing, and the safety factor will become higher and higher.
