Patent Description:
Watermarks have been integrated into documents to verify authenticity since at least as early as the <NUM>'s. The concept was to apply a unique, hard-to-replicate design feature that could quickly be identified by a stakeholder. This type of approach was applied in <CIT>), entitled "Watermarked Paper" and filed in <NUM>, which notes that "when the paper thus produced is examined against the light", unique features can be observed.

Photoluminescence (PL) is the emission of light (electromagnetic radiation, photons) after the absorption of light. It is one form of luminescence (light emission) and is initiated by photoexcitation (excitation by photons). Following photon excitation, various charge relaxation processes can occur in which other photons with a lower energy are re-radiated on some time scale. The energy difference between the absorbed photons and the emitted photons, also known as Stokes shift, can vary widely across materials from nearly zero to <NUM> eV or more. Time periods between absorption and emission may also vary, and may range from the short femtosecond-regime (for emissions involving free-carrier plasma in inorganic semiconductors) up to milliseconds (for phosphorescent processes in molecular systems). Under special circumstances, delay of emission may even span to minutes or hours. Further, for a given material or mixture of materials, the emission lifetime can depend on the excitation and emission wavelength.

Some uses of luminescent security inks for authentication are known to the art. This may be appreciated, for example, with respect to <CIT>, and <CIT>.

In one aspect, a security ink is provided which comprises (a) a liquid medium; and (b) a plurality of quantum dots disposed in said medium which, upon excitation with a light source, exhibit a quantum yield greater than <NUM>%, and a photoluminescence which has at least one lifetime of more than <NUM> nanoseconds but less than <NUM> millisecond and which varies by at least <NUM>% across the emission spectrum of the quantum dots, wherein said plurality of quantum dots comprises a first set of quantum dots having a first chemical composition and size, and a second set of quantum dots having a second chemical composition and size which are distinct from said first chemical composition and size.

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals, commonly known as quantum dots (QDs), provide various size-tunable optical properties, including PL, and may be inexpensively processed from liquids. In particular, they are very effective at absorbing a broad spectrum of light and then converting that energy into emitted light of a single color that is determined by their size. Optical properties (such as, for example, absorption and emission spectra, PL lifetimes and Stokes shift) can be programmed into these materials by tailoring the manufacturing conditions to realize different sizes, shapes, compositions, and/or heterostructuring. This fundamental property of QDs has spurred research and development of fluorescence biolabeling, color-specific light-emitting-diodes, and vibrant displays. However, the current generation of QDs are toxic and far too expensive to reach most markets. There is thus a unique opportunity for QDs that are both low-cost and non-toxic as active elements of luminescent composites for security inks (e.g., overt and covert optical features) and other applications (e.g., lighting, solar, safety, design).

It became clear in the late <NUM>'s that the emerging technology of QDs might be particularly well suited as fluorophores for security inks. One of the earliest reports of QD security inks may be found in <CIT>. This reference notes that a "mark is invisible to the unaided eye, but that can be detected as fluorescence upon excitation with an activating light of a suitable excitation wavelength spectrum.

The concept of using the fluorescence lifetime of quantum dots may be found in <CIT>. McGrew saw QDs as being advantageous over dyes (alternative fluorophore) because dyes typically have a very fast PL lifetime, on the order of a few nanoseconds. However, McGrew incorrectly claimed that the lifetime of typical CdSe QDs was "hundreds of nanoseconds", which is only the case if the QDs are very poorly passivated such that the emission arises from surface states. In that case, the PL QY of the dots is very low, typically <<NUM>%, with the result that the emission is far too weak to be of practical use. However, in well passivated CdSe-based QDs that have high QY (><NUM>%), the emission lifetime is much faster, on the order of <NUM>-<NUM> ns at room temperature (see, e.g., <NPL>). Similarly, typical high-efficiency inorganic phosphors such as yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) have PL lifetimes on the order of <NUM> ns (see, e.g., <NPL>).

In more recent references such as <CIT>), entitled "Quantum Dot-Based Luminescent Marking Material", and <CIT>), entitled "Quantum Dot Fluorescent Inks", the focus has been on the spectral signatures of a QD based security ink. For example, Wosnick teaches "materials comprising two or more luminescent marking materials, wherein each luminescent marking material, when exposed to activating radiation, has a unique narrow emission band". Yang teaches materials with a wider range of emissions between "about <NUM> and <NUM>". Yang also teaches I-III-VI semiconductors such as CuInGaS<NUM>, CuInGaSe<NUM>, AgInS<NUM>, AgInSe<NUM>, and AgGaTe<NUM> as examples of materials that the "quantum dot core can comprise".

Nanocrystal quantum dots of the I-III-VI class of semiconductors, such as CuInS<NUM>, are of growing interest for applications in optoelectronic devices such as solar photovoltaics (see, e.g., PVs, <NPL>) and light-emitting diodes (see, e.g.,<NPL>). These quantum dots exhibit strong optical absorption and stable efficient photoluminescence that can be tuned from the visible to the near-infrared (see, e.g., <NPL>) through composition and quantum size effects. In fact, Grätzel cells sensitized by specifically engineered I-III-VI quantum dots have recently been shown to offer excellent stability and certified power conversion efficiencies of ><NUM>%. (see <NPL>). Alloyed CuInZnSeS QDs are particularly attractive for luminescent security inks because of their low toxicity, long term stability, nearly ideal PL lifetime, and other unique optical properties. In the security inks and methods of authentication disclosed in that reference, spectrally resolving the PL lifetime is surprisingly simple and cost-effective using this material.

The current generation of security inks and methods of their authentication have several major drawbacks that limit their utility. First, optical spectra alone can be easily reproduced by one or a combination of fluorophores that are widely available. Second, although one simple way to distinguish between such fluorophores could be achieved by resolving their PL lifetime, the PL lifetime of most emissive materials is less than <NUM> nanoseconds or longer than <NUM>'s of microseconds. Distinguishing between a PL lifetime of a few nanoseconds (or less) and tens of nanoseconds is a non-trivial undertaking with typical electronics, since it requires pulsed excitation and detection with bandwidths on the order of hundreds of <NUM>.

For example, at present, an off the shelf LED which may be obtained from typical suppliers at a cost of a few dollars has a rise and fall time of about <NUM> ns, or a <NUM> ns pulse width (at shortest). Upgrading to a ~<NUM> ns pulse width LED will cost about $<NUM>,<NUM> retail, while the price of a <NUM> ps pulse-capable LED is about $<NUM>,<NUM>. In order to accurately measure the PL lifetime of a material, the excitation pulse width should be shorter than the PL lifetime, since otherwise the measurement will consistently produce the LED temporal behavior only. Therefore, lifetimes longer than tens of nanoseconds are needed in order to distinguish materials inexpensively, since otherwise, costly fast/frequent pulses and ultrafast detection are required.

Conversely, lifetimes which are too long - for example, manganese-doped zinc sulfide nanocrystals have a <NUM> PL lifetime (see<NPL>) - will take too long for authentication, since in that case, the excitation frequency must be much less than the inverse of the PL lifetime. For example, if one attempted to pulse a <NUM> fluorophore at <NUM>, the signal would not be able to decay appreciably between pulses (<NUM>/<NUM> = <NUM> << <NUM>). In order to build up signal to noise, it is estimated that at least <NUM> cycles must be completed. Hence, a <NUM> PL lifetime needs at least <NUM> seconds worth of data for each frequency, while a <NUM> ns PL lifetime would need only about <NUM> for each frequency.

Thirdly, most QD materials available today are highly hazardous. The use of cadmium-based fluorophore is a non-starter for most security ink applications, since it is a known carcinogen that bio-accumulates in the human body. The most common cadmium-free QD material, indium phosphide, is also a known carcinogen. For near-IR emission, lead-based QDs are typically utilized. There is a clear and urgent need for QD fluorophores which are non-carcinogenic and have PL lifetimes of order <NUM>'s of nanoseconds.

In addition, there are also problems with methods of authentication, in part because the security ink technology was not conceived which demanded new authentication concepts. Although McGrew teaches that PL lifetimes can be combined with spectral signatures for enhanced authentication, the reference does not teach spectrally resolving the PL lifetime. A material which contains a PL lifetime that varies over the detection spectral bandwidth would produce an average lifetime if measured over the entire spectrum. Such an average would not be a single exponential decay, but rather a multi-exponential linear sum of the contributing decays. A single exponential decay is important for low-cost authentication because it allows for simple, unambiguous determination of the lifetime. Further, typical methods for spectrally resolving a lifetime would require the pulsed emission to pass through a diffraction grating or prism in order to split the spectrum spatially for detection. Such spectral splitting requires large volumes and, in some cases, moving parts, which slows the authentication process and/or increases the size of the authenticator. Hence, in order to take advantage of the security inks disclosed herein, new methods of compact and rapid authentication are needed wherein the PL lifetime is spectrally resolved (or, equivalently, wherein the PL spectrum is temporally resolved).

Full spectrum (visible to near-IR, <NUM>-<NUM>) photoluminescent non-toxic security inks are needed to create unique spectral and temporal signatures on high value items including, but not limited to banknotes, credit cards, important documents, pharmaceuticals, and luxury goods. Existing methods for rapid, compact, and low-cost authentication of these security inks have not yet been envisioned, but are required in parallel.

Novel security inks are disclosed herein which, in a preferred embodiment, contain non-carcinogenic QDs having tunable PL spectra with peaks in the visible (<NUM>-<NUM>) to near-IR (<NUM>-<NUM>) and spectrally varying PL lifetimes in the optimal range of <NUM> - <NUM> ns. In some embodiments, the ink may contain multiple sizes and/or compositions of QD emitters to modify the spectrum and/or temporal characteristics further. A preferred, though non-limiting, photoluminescent material for this purpose is CuInZnSeS QDs.

Methods of authentication of these security inks are also disclosed which involve pulsed LED excitation and spectrally-resolved detection. The PL decay may be characterized in the frequency domain or in the time domain by probing of the delay between detected photons and the excitation. This may be accomplished, for example, by measuring the phase relationship between the excitation waveform and the detected waveform. The spectral resolving capability may be achieved by filtering the light prior to detection with a long pass, short pass, or band pass filter. An exemplary long-pass filter material for this purpose may comprise the same or similar QDs as are used in the ink; however, the QDs in the filter material are preferably rendered non-emissive or weakly-emissive.

The compositions, systems and methodologies disclosed herein represent an improvement over previous generations of authentication technologies in which it was typical for only the spectral signatures to be observed, since temporal characterization was not economically viable. Moreover, in previous authentication methodologies, the temporal response of a security ink was not spectrally resolved. The compositions, systems and methodologies disclosed herein may be utilized to provide a simple, safe, rapid, and cost-effective solution to the counterfeiting of high value items.

The following explanations of terms and abbreviations are provided to better describe the present disclosure and to guide those of ordinary skill in the art in the practice of the present disclosure. As used herein, "comprising" means "including" and the singular forms "a" or "an" or "the" include plural references unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term "or" refers to a single element of stated alternative elements or a combination of two or more elements, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

Unless explained otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure relates. Suitable methods and compositions are described herein for the practice or testing of the compositions, systems and methodologies described herein. However, it is to be understood that other methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may be used in the practice or testing of these compositions, systems and methodologies. Consequently, the compositions, materials, methods, and examples disclosed herein are illustrative only, and are not intended to be limiting. Other features of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities of components, percentages, temperatures, times, and so forth, as used in the specification or claims are to be understood as being modified by the term "about. " Unless otherwise indicated, non-numerical properties such as colloidal, continuous, crystalline, and so forth as used in the specification or claims are to be understood as being modified by the term "substantially," meaning to a great extent or degree. Accordingly, unless otherwise indicated implicitly or explicitly, the numerical parameters and/or non-numerical properties set forth are approximations that may depend on the desired properties sought, the limits of detection under standard test conditions or methods, the limitations of the processing methods, and/or the nature of the parameter or property. When directly and explicitly distinguishing embodiments from discussed prior art, the embodiment numbers are not approximates unless the word "about" is recited.

Carcinogen: A material that has been shown to directly or indirectly cause cancer in any mammal.

Phase Measurement Device: A device that measures phase. Examples include, but are not limited to, lock-in amplifiers, impedance gain phase analyzers, oscilloscopes, and network analyzers.

Photoluminescence (PL): The emission of light (electromagnetic radiation, photons) after the absorption of light. It is one form of luminescence (light emission) and is initiated by photoexcitation (excitation by photons).

Polymer: A large molecule, or macromolecule, composed of many repeated subunits. Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such as polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), to natural biopolymers such as DNA and proteins that are fundamental to biological structure and function. Polymers, both natural and synthetic, are created via polymerization of many small molecules, known as monomers. Exemplary polymers include poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), polystyrene, silicones, epoxy resins, and nail polish.

Toxic: Denotes a material that can damage living organisms due to the presence of phosphorus or heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, or mercury.

Quantum Dot (QD): A nanoscale particle that exhibits size-dependent electronic and optical properties due to quantum confinement. The quantum dots disclosed herein preferably have at least one dimension less than about <NUM> nanometers. The disclosed quantum dots may be colloidal quantum dots, i.e., quantum dots that may remain in suspension when dispersed in a liquid medium. Some of the quantum dots which may be utilized in the compositions, systems and methodologies described herein are made from a binary semiconductor material having a formula MX, where M is a metal and X typically is selected from sulfur, selenium, tellurium, nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony or mixtures thereof. Exemplary binary quantum dots which may be utilized in the compositions, systems and methodologies described herein include CdS, CdSe, CdTe, PbS, PbSe, PbTe, ZnS, ZnSe, ZnTe, InP, InAs, Cu<NUM>S, and In<NUM>S<NUM>. Other quantum dots which may be utilized in the compositions, systems and methodologies described herein are ternary, quaternary, and/or alloyed quantum dots including, but not limited to, ZnSSe, ZnSeTe, ZnSTe, CdSSe, CdSeTe, HgSSe, HgSeTe, HgSTe, ZnCdS, ZnCdSe, ZnCdTe, ZnHgS, ZnHgSe, ZnHgTe, CdHgS, CdHgSe, CdHgTe, ZnCdSSe, ZnHgSSe, ZnCdSeTe, ZnHgSeTe, CdHgSSe, CdHgSeTe, CuInS<NUM>, CuInSe<NUM>, CuInGaSe<NUM>, CuInZnS<NUM>, CuZnSnSe<NUM>, CuIn(Se,S)<NUM>, CuInZn(Se,S)<NUM>, and AgIn(Se,S)<NUM> quantum dots, although the use of non-toxic quantum dots is preferred. Embodiments of the disclosed quantum dots may be of a single material, or may comprise an inner core and an outer shell (e.g., a thin outer shell/layer formed by any suitable method, such as cation exchange). The quantum dots may further include a plurality of ligands bound to the quantum dot surface.

Security ink: A liquid solution applied by inkjet printing, stamping, scribing, spraying, or other marking methods that imparts uniquely identifiable features onto a substrate for the purposes of authentication or counterfeit prevention.

Emission spectrum: Those portions of the electromagnetic spectrum over which a mark exhibits PL (in response to excitation by a light source) whose amplitude is at least <NUM>% of the peak PL emission.

The preferred embodiment of the systems and methodologies disclosed herein includes the use of a security ink comprising a mixture of one or more sizes and/or compositions of CuInZnSeS QDs (see <FIG>), and the spectrally-resolved detection of the temporal signatures (see <FIG>) of the security ink with one or more photodetectors (see <FIG>). <FIG> depicts the mode with the strongest authentication, wherein light source <NUM> (which may be, for example, a blue or UV LED) emits a time-varying excitation <NUM> upon a security ink containing QDs <NUM> applied to a substrate <NUM>. Then, the time-varying photoluminescence from the ink <NUM> is measured by first and second photodetectors <NUM> and <NUM> after being spectrally resolved using first and second optical elements <NUM> and <NUM> which may be, for example, optical filters. In some embodiments, the first and second optical elements <NUM> and <NUM> may comprise thin films containing non-emissive versions of the same or similar QDs in the security ink.

For example, in some embodiments of the device of <FIG>, the time-varying light source <NUM> may excite the security ink <NUM>, thereby causing the security ink to emit an emission spectrum having first and second distinct regions which are characterized by first and second distinct lifetimes. The first optical element <NUM> may be disposed in a first optical path which includes the first photodetector <NUM>, and the second optical element <NUM> may be disposed in a second optical path which includes the second photodetector <NUM>. In such a configuration, the first optical element <NUM> may act to allow only the first region of the emission spectrum from an optical signal to pass through it, and the second optical element <NUM> may act to allow only the second region of the emission spectrum from an optical signal to pass through it. A microcontroller <NUM> typically in electrical communication with the first <NUM> and second <NUM> photodetectors that may then determine the photoluminescence lifetime of the security ink <NUM> over the first and second regions by monitoring the time or frequency response of the first <NUM> and second <NUM> photodetectors. Additionally, a phase measuring device <NUM> may determine a phase relationship between the electrical signal producing time-varying light <NUM> and the electrical response of the first <NUM> and second <NUM> photodetectors, and then provide that phase information to the microcontroller <NUM> for determination of the first and second distinct lifetimes.

Additional spectral resolution may be achieved by choice of the photodetectors. For example, a typical low-cost photodetector is a silicon photodiode which has an absorption onset of about <NUM>. When such a photodetector is combined with the QDs having the absorption spectrum <NUM> shown in <FIG>, which allow only light with wavelengths longer than <NUM>, the resulting combination selects only emission in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>. Such a set-up would allow for detection of the photoluminescence <NUM> shown in <FIG>, enabled by the large separation <NUM> between the absorption and emission of CuInZnSeS QDs. Typical QDs would significantly self-absorb their own PL, preventing its detection. Choosing a different filter and/or a different photodetector will adjust the spectral resolution of the detection so that specific bands of the photoluminescence (such as that shown in <FIG>) can be selected for temporal characterization. <FIG> shows the PL decay from a mixture of different CuInZnSeS QDs, where the PL from each type of QD is selected by a monochromator (circles and squares) having single exponential decays of <NUM> ns (observed near <NUM>) and <NUM> ns (observed near <NUM>).

In the best mode of the system depicted in <FIG>, QDs may be added to an existing ink that will typically result in a polymer matrix being formed for an added pigment such as QDs. The ink containing the QDs may then be applied to a substrate by any suitable method of ink deposition including, but not limited to, inkjet printing, stamping, scribing, spraying, or other suitable marking methods as are known to the art. The detector utilized in this methodology is preferably a compact and handheld device which preferably includes a pulsed LED, color-selective filters, photodetectors, at least one microcontroller, and other necessary electronics (such as, for example, a lock-in amplifier). Such devices are commercially available, and may be manufactured using techniques that are well known in the consumer electronics industry.

For the overt mode shown in <FIG> (described below), the security ink is illuminated by a handheld light source (such as, for example, a blue or UV LED flashlight), and the resulting visible photoluminescence is observed visually for a simple, low-tech, first authentication, as desired. Counterfeiters may erroneously believe that the overt mode shown in <FIG> is, in fact, the only security feature, and may thus fail to ensure that the covert modes shown in <FIG> are adequately imparted.

The compositions, systems and methodologies disclosed herein are especially suitable for validating the authenticity of high value items. Such validation may occur in the time-domain or the frequency domain.

In the time domain version of the system depicted in <FIG>, the light source <NUM> is triggered to emit pulses of light <NUM> at multiple different frequencies. Thus, in the time domain, the resulting excitation (light source) signals are manifested as short-duration step functions.

The frequencies of excitation should be of the order of the inverse of the PL lifetimes of the security ink to be characterized. For example, at a very low frequency compared with the inverse of the PL lifetime, the average amount of light reaching the detectors will depend linearly on the amplitude and the frequency of the excitation, since the ink can fully relax between pulses. At a very high frequency compared with the inverse of the PL lifetime, the average amount of light reaching the detectors will depend on the amplitude of the excitation, but will not depend much (if at all) on the frequency of excitation (or the PL lifetime) because the PL of the ink will only slightly decay before the next pulse comes to re-excite the ink. Therefore, if two or more frequencies are chosen to excite the ink in the range of the inverse of the lifetimes to be measured, upper and lower bounds may be placed on the PL lifetime of the ink, thereby validating the covert feature. Using spectral selection of the PL of the ink adds additional PL lifetime bounds for different bands of the emission spectrum, thereby strengthening the security.

The time-domain approach is simple in that only the average power from the photodetectors must be observed, thus simplifying the electronics. However, multiple frequencies of excitation must be used, which could lengthen the time needed for confident authentication.

In the frequency domain version of the system depicted in <FIG>, the light source <NUM> is triggered to emit sinusoidal light <NUM> at a single frequency or at multiple frequencies. Consequently, in the frequency domain, the signals are manifested as delta functions at the given frequencies. It is preferred that the frequency of excitation is on the order of the inverse of the PL lifetimes of the security ink to be characterized.

The electrical impulse creating the excited light is sent to a lock-in amplifier or other phase analyzer that compares it to the electrical impulse(s) coming from the photodetector(s) at the same frequency. The lock-in amplifier or other phase analyzer then determines the phase relationship between the signals and the phase differences are related to the lifetimes of the PL detected (unknown) and the frequency of the excitation (known). Hence, by using the phase difference between the excitation and PL emission from the ink, the lifetime of the ink may be determined. Using spectral selection of the PL of the ink adds PL lifetime information for different bands of the emission spectrum, thereby strengthening the security.

The frequency-domain approach is more complicated than the time-domain approach because it requires lock-in detection or other phase analysis hardware. However, fewer (or even one) frequencies of excitation may be used in this approach, which will typically shorten the time needed for confident authentication.

<FIG> illustrates a particular, non-limiting embodiment of a process in accordance with the teachings herein in which PLs are determined for one or more portions of an emissions spectrum. As seen therein, the process begins with determining whether an article to be authenticated contains a security mark <NUM>. If not, the article is not authenticated <NUM>, and the process ends.

If the article does contain a security mark, then the security mark is irradiated with a time-varying light source <NUM>. A portion of the resulting emission spectrum is then selected, and the photoluminescence lifetime (PL) is measured <NUM>. A determination is then made as to whether the measured PL is within predetermined upper and lower bounds for the selected portion of the emissions spectrum <NUM>. If not, the article is not authenticated <NUM>, and the process ends. If so, a determination is made as to whether the PL has been measured over an adequate number of portions of the emissions spectrum <NUM>. If not, the process is passed to step <NUM>. If so, the article is authenticated <NUM>, and the process ends.

<FIG> illustrates another particular, non-limiting embodiment of a process in accordance with the teachings herein in which PLs are determined for one or more portions of an emissions spectrum by measuring the phase difference between a first signal used to generate the light used to irradiate an article, and a second signal produced by a photodetector that detects emissions from the irradiated article.

As seen therein, the process begins with determining whether an article to be authenticated contains a security mark <NUM>. If not, the article is not authenticated <NUM>, and the process ends. If the article does contain a security mark, then the security mark is irradiated with a time-varying light source <NUM> produced by an electrical signal A. A portion of the emission spectrum is then detected <NUM> with a photodetector that produces an electrical signal B. The PL lifetime is then determined <NUM> by measuring the phase difference between signals A and B.

A determination is then made as to whether the PL lifetime is within the predetermined upper and lower bounds for the selected portion of the emission spectrum <NUM>. If not, the article is not authenticated <NUM>, and the process ends. If so, a determination is made as to whether the PL has been measured over an adequate number of portions of the emissions spectrum <NUM>. If not, the process is passed to step <NUM>. If so, the article is authenticated <NUM>, and the process ends.

The following examples are non-limiting, and are merely intended to further illustrate the compositions, systems and methodologies disclosed herein.

This example illustrates the use of overt authentication as both a quick authentication method and a "red herring", that is, a feature intended to fool or frustrate counterfeiters.

The device utilized in this example is depicted schematically in <FIG>. As seen therein, the device comprises a light source <NUM> (which may be, for example, a blue or UV LED flashlight) emitting an excitation <NUM> upon a security ink containing QDs <NUM> applied to a substrate <NUM>. The photoluminescence <NUM> from the ink in the irradiated substrate <NUM> is then observed and spectrally resolved by an observer's eye <NUM>. This mode exemplifies the way that photo luminescent security inks are typically authenticated, and is still an available mode for the systems and methodologies disclosed herein. More importantly, a counterfeiter seeking to circumvent the security may believe that this mode is the only mode of authentication, and hence this mode may serve as a "red herring" to frustrate the efforts of counterfeiters. It is possible to create an ink with different materials such as dyes or other types of QDs that will appear by eye the same using this overt feature, but under the other modes will not be authenticated.

As a test of this mode, CuInZnSeS QDs were dissolved in octane at <NUM>/mL and deposited onto a paper substrate. Under blue and UV LED flashlights, the deposited ink, which otherwise has a light yellow hue, glowed a bright orange.

This example illustrates the use of covert authentication using a single, unfiltered photodetector.

As seen in <FIG>, a system is provided in which a light source <NUM> (such as, for example, a blue or UV LED) emits a time-varying excitation <NUM> upon a security ink containing QDs <NUM> applied to a substrate <NUM>. The time-varying photoluminescence from the irradiated ink <NUM> is measured by a photodetectors <NUM>. Spectral resolution is achieved by choice of the photodetector <NUM>.

This example illustrates the use of covert authentication using a single, filtered photodetector.

As seen in <FIG>, a system is provided in which a light source <NUM> (which may be, for example, a blue or UV LED) emits a time-varying excitation <NUM> upon a security ink containing QDs <NUM> applied to a substrate <NUM>. The time-varying photoluminescence from the irradiated ink <NUM> is measured by a photodetector <NUM> after being spectrally resolved using a spectrum selecting component <NUM>. In some embodiments, the spectrum selecting component may comprise a thin film containing non-emissive or weakly-emissive versions of the same or similar QDs in the security ink. Additional spectral resolution is achieved by choice of the photodetectors.

As a test of this mode, a mixture of two different CuInZnSeS QDs were dissolved in octane at <NUM>/mL and deposited onto a paper substrate. The resulting spectrum is shown in <FIG> (CIS QD <NUM> and CIS QD <NUM>, squares). Under <NUM> excitation (blue), the PL decay was measured in the range of from <NUM> to <NUM>, selecting only the emission from CIS QD <NUM>. The PL decay was measured using time-resolved single photon counting (Horiba FluoroMax <NUM> system) and single exponential decay of <NUM> ns was observed (see <FIG>, circles).

Various modifications, substitutions, combinations, and ranges of parameters may be made or utilized in the compositions, devices and methodologies described herein.

For example, in some embodiments, the photoluminescence of the security ink to be characterized by light emission may have wavelengths in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>, more preferably in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>, and most preferably in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the photoluminescence of the security ink may be characterized by a lifetime of more than <NUM> ns, more than <NUM> ns, more than <NUM> ns, or more than <NUM> ns. Preferably, however, the photoluminescence of the security ink is less than <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the photoluminescence of the security ink may be characterized by a lifetime that varies by at least <NUM> ns, by at least <NUM> seconds, or by at least <NUM> ns across the emission spectrum.

In some embodiments, the photoluminescence of the security ink may be characterized by a quantum yield of at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>%, at least <NUM>%, or at least <NUM>%.

Various light sources may be utilized in the devices and methodologies described herein to excite the security ink and/or authenticate an article bearing the ink. Preferably, these light sources are LED light sources featuring one or more LEDs, and more preferably, these light sources are selected from the group consisting of UV LEDs, blue LEDs, green LEDs and red LEDs.

The light sources utilized in the devices and methodologies described herein may oscillate at various frequencies. Thus, for example, these light sources may oscillate at frequencies of less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, less than <NUM>, or less than <NUM>.

Various photodetectors may be utilized in the devices and methodologies described herein to analyze emissions received from an article exposed to radiation for the purposes of authentication. Thus, for example, the photodetector may selectively absorb light with wavelengths shorter than (acting as a short pass filter) <NUM>, shorter than <NUM>, shorter than <NUM>, shorter than <NUM>, shorter than <NUM>, shorter than <NUM>, or shorter than <NUM>.

Various optical elements may be utilized in the optical paths of the devices and methodologies described herein. For example, in some embodiments, a spectrum selecting optical element may be placed in the optical path between the irradiated article and the photodetector, and through which the photoluminescence passes before reaching the photodetector. Such an optical element may include, for example, one or more elements selected from the group consisting of light filters, quantum dot films and colored glasses. A spectrum selecting optical element of this type may allow only a given portion of the spectrum to pass through from an optical signal incident on the spectrum selecting optical element. By way of example, some embodiments may feature a first spectrum selecting optical element disposed in a first optical path between the irradiated article and a first photodetector, and a second spectrum selecting optical element disposed in a second optical path between the irradiated article and a second photodetector. Such an arrangement allows a microcontroller to determine the lifetime of photoluminescence over two distinct optical regions of the emission spectrum. Of course, it will be appreciated that a similar approach may be utilized to determine the lifetimes of photoluminescence over any desired number of distinct optical regions of the emission spectrum.

In some embodiments, two or more distinct types of quantum dots may be utilized in the systems, methodologies and compositions described herein. These quantum dots may be compositionally distinct. For example, the security inks described herein may comprise a first type of quantum dot based on a first chemistry, and a second type of quantum dot based on a second chemistry which is distinct from the first chemistry. Thus, for example, the first type of quantum dot may comprise, for example, CuInS<NUM>, while the second type of quantum dot may comprise AgInSe<NUM>. Similarly, the security inks described herein may comprise a first type of quantum dot based on a first set of dimensions (or distribution of dimensions) of the quantum dots, and a second type of quantum dot based on a second set of dimensions (or distribution of dimensions) of the quantum dots which is distinct from the first set of dimensions (or distribution of dimensions) of the quantum dots. Thus, for example, the first type of quantum dot may comprise generally spherical quantum dots having a first diameter (e.g., <NUM>), and the second type of quantum dot may comprise generally spherical quantum dots having a second diameter (e.g., <NUM>).

Various phase analyzers may be utilized in the systems and methodologies described herein. These devices may include, but are not limited to, lock-in amplifiers, impedance gain phase analyzers, oscilloscopes, and network analyzers. Typically, such devices operate by measuring a phase relationship between a time-varying excitation and a time-varying photoluminescence for a security ink of the type disclosed herein.

Claim 1:
A security ink, comprising:
a liquid medium; and
a plurality of quantum dots disposed in said medium which, upon excitation with a light source, exhibit a quantum yield greater than <NUM>%, and a photoluminescence which has at least one lifetime of more than <NUM> nanoseconds but less than <NUM> millisecond and which varies by at least <NUM>% across the emission spectrum of the quantum dots
wherein said plurality of quantum dots comprises a first set of quantum dots having a first chemical composition and size, and a second set of quantum dots having a second chemical composition and size which are distinct from said first chemical composition and size.