Hybrid Plasmonic/Photonic Nanoscale Strategy for Multilevel Anticounterfeit Labels

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Optics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Counterfeiting necessitates robust authentication methods.
• Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) leverage unique physical properties for device identification.
• Existing PUFs face vulnerabilities due to widespread availability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel three-level strong physical unclonable function (PUF).
• To enhance goods authentication by combining plasmonic and photonic properties.
• To explore applications beyond authentication, such as temperature sensing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a hybrid plasmonic/photonic multilayered structure.
• Utilizing plasmonic silver nanoislands for a nanoscale morphological fingerprint.
• Engineering the interplay between photonic and plasmonic modes for multiple security levels.

Main Results:

• The proposed structure functions as a three-level strong PUF.
• A unique chromatic signature and broad iridescence were achieved.
• A rich spectral response, accessible via smartphone, was demonstrated.
• The architecture showed potential as an irreversible temperature exposure label.

Conclusions:

• The hybrid plasmonic/photonic PUF offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for anti-counterfeiting.
• The device provides multiple layers of security through its unique optical properties.
• Potential applications include morpho-cryptography and irreversible temperature monitoring.