Dynamic Anti-Counterfeiting Labels with Enhanced Multi-Level Information Encryption

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2023 Jan 11;15(1):2104-2111. doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c17870. Epub 2022 Dec 21.

Abstract

Information encryption is an important means to improve the security of anti-counterfeiting labels. At present, it is still challenging to realize an anti-counterfeiting label with multi-function, high security factor, low production cost, and easy detection and identification. Herein, using inkjet and screen printing technology, we construct a multi-dimensional and multi-level dynamic optical anti-counterfeiting label based on instantaneously luminescent quantum dots and long afterglow phosphor, whose color and luminous intensity varied in response to time. Self-assembled quantum dot patterns with intrinsic fingerprint information endow the label with physical unclonable functions (PUFs), and the information encryption level of the label is significantly improved in view of the information variation in the temporal dimension. Furthermore, the convolutional residual neural networks are used to decode the massive information of PUFs, enabling fast and accurate identification of the anti-counterfeit labels.

Keywords: dynamic anti-counterfeiting; fingerprint pattern; information encryption; long afterglow; physical unclonable function; quantum dots.