Radiative lifetime-encoded unicolour security tags using perovskite nanocrystals

Sergii Yakunin (), Jana Chaaban, Bogdan M. Benin, Ihor Cherniukh, Caterina Bernasconi, Annelies Landuyt, Yevhen Shynkarenko, Sami Bolat, Christoph Hofer, Yaroslav E. Romanyuk, Stefano Cattaneo, Sergey I. Pokutnyi, Richard D. Schaller, Maryna I. Bodnarchuk (), Dimos Poulikakos () and Maksym V. Kovalenko ()
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Sergii Yakunin: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zürich
Jana Chaaban: Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies
Bogdan M. Benin: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zürich
Ihor Cherniukh: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zürich
Caterina Bernasconi: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zürich
Annelies Landuyt: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zürich
Yevhen Shynkarenko: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zürich
Sami Bolat: Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
Christoph Hofer: Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM)
Yaroslav E. Romanyuk: Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
Stefano Cattaneo: Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM)
Sergey I. Pokutnyi: Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Richard D. Schaller: Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory
Maryna I. Bodnarchuk: Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
Dimos Poulikakos: Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies
Maksym V. Kovalenko: Department of Chemistry and Applied Bioscience, ETH Zürich

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Traditional fluorescence-based tags, used for anticounterfeiting, rely on primitive pattern matching and visual identification; additional covert security features such as fluorescent lifetime or pattern masking are advantageous if fraud is to be deterred. Herein, we present an electrohydrodynamically printed unicolour multi-fluorescent-lifetime security tag system composed of lifetime-tunable lead-halide perovskite nanocrystals that can be deciphered with both existing time-correlated single-photon counting fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy and a novel time-of-flight prototype. We find that unicolour or matching emission wavelength materials can be prepared through cation-engineering with the partial substitution of formamidinium for ethylenediammonium to generate “hollow” formamidinium lead bromide perovskite nanocrystals; these materials can be successfully printed into fluorescence-lifetime-encoded-quick-read tags that are protected from conventional readers. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that a portable, cost-effective time-of-flight fluorescence-lifetime imaging prototype can also decipher these codes. A single comprehensive approach combining these innovations may be eventually deployed to protect both producers and consumers.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21214-3

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