scholarly journals Low-Cost Nanostructured Thin Films as Covert Laser Readable Security Tags for Large-Scale Productions Tracking

Applied Nano ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-329
Author(s):  
Laurent Gravier ◽  
Yves Salvadé ◽  
Damien Pidoux ◽  
Julien Maritz ◽  
Marco Laratta

We report here the feasibility study of anti-counterfeiting low-cost nanostructured flexible security tags for the tracking of large-scale fabrication products, such as pharmaceuticals or original equipment manufacturers. The fabrication process makes use of the mature nanotechnology called Template Synthesis to shape thin track-etched polymer film into covert laser readable tags, combining random self-organized structures with organized patterns. Techniques are developed to drastically limit the number of fabrication steps and keep fabrication costs low, while opening to numerous adjustment parameters. A dedicated, simple optical setup is presented, to capture speckle images of such tags lightened up by light emitting diodes or laser beams. Speckle images are analyzed in terms of encoding parameters, found here quite numerous to ensure a large coding range of large-scale production batches. We particularly highlight ultra-dark areas in speckle images, where nanowire structures completely inhibit speckle patterns. This unique, high-contrast optical feature addresses these low-cost nanostructured thin films to provide a very promising solution for large-scale security tags.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. M. Shehata ◽  
M. M. Ibrahim ◽  
M. R. Balboul

Here, we report a simple strategy for the preparation of graphene/TiO2 nanocomposite by UV-assisted incorporation of TiO2 nanosol in graphene oxide (GO) dispersion. The proposed method is facile and of low cost without using any photocatalysts or reducing agents; this can open up a new possibility for green preparation of stable graphene dispersions in large-scale production. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been used to characterize carefully the as-prepared composites and to confirm the successful preparation of the nanocomposites. The average crystallite size of TiO2 nanoparticles calculated from XRD pattern using Rietveld analysis is ~35 nm. TEM measurements show the adsorption of TiO2 onto graphene (G) sheets, which prevents the restacking of graphene sheets. Current-voltage and capacitance-voltage measurements were used to investigate the electrical resistive memory properties of GO, GO/TiO2, and G/TiO2 thin films. Observed results show hysteresis behavior due to the charge trapping and detrapping process, indicating that the prepared thin films exhibit an excellent resistance switching memory characteristic for G/TiO2 device.


2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Crowley ◽  
Malcolm Smyth ◽  
Anthony Killard ◽  
Aoife Morrin

AbstractIn recent years, much research has focused on the development of low-cost, printed electrochemical sensor platforms for environmental monitoring and clinical diagnostics. Much effort in this area has been based on utilising the redox properties of conducting polymers, particularly polyaniline (PANI). In tackling the inherent lack of processability exhibited by these materials, several groups have examined various mass-amenable fabrication approaches to obtain suitable thin films of PANI for sensing applications. Specifically, the approaches investigated over the years include the in situ chemical synthesis of PANI, the use of sulphonated derivatives of PANI and the synthesis of aqueousbased nano-dispersions of PANI. Nano-dispersions have shown a great deal of promise for sensing applications, given that they are inkjet-printable, facilitating the patterning of conducting polymer directly to the substrate. We have shown that inkjet-printed films of PANI can be finely controlled in terms of their two-dimensional pattern, thickness, and conductivity, highlighting the level of precision achievable by inkjet printing. Utilising these nanomaterials as inkjet-printable inks opens novel, facile, and economical possibilities for conducting polymer-printed electronic applications in areas of sensing, but also many other application areas such as energy storage, displays, organic light-emitting diodes. Given that inkjet-printing is a scalable manufacturing technique, it renders possible the large-scale production of devices such as sensors for a range of applications. Several successes have emerged from our work and from the work of others in the area of applying PANI in low-cost sensor applications, which is the focus of this review.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1706
Author(s):  
Zacharias Viskadourakis ◽  
Argiri Drymiskianaki ◽  
Vassilis M. Papadakis ◽  
Ioanna Ioannou ◽  
Theodora Kyratsi ◽  
...  

In the current study, polymer-based composites, consisting of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Bismuth Antimony Telluride (BixSb2−xTe3), were produced using mechanical mixing and hot pressing. These composites were investigated regarding their electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient, with respect to Bi doping and BixSb2-xTe3 loading into the composite. Experimental results showed that their thermoelectric performance is comparable—or even superior, in some cases—to reported thermoelectric polymer composites that have been produced using other complex techniques. Consequently, mechanically mixed polymer-based thermoelectric materials could be an efficient method for low-cost and large-scale production of polymer composites for potential thermoelectric applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peipei Du ◽  
Jinghui Li ◽  
Liang Wang ◽  
Liang Sun ◽  
Xi Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractWith rapid advances of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), the large-scale fabrication of patterned PeLEDs towards display panels is of increasing importance. However, most state-of-the-art PeLEDs are fabricated by solution-processed techniques, which are difficult to simultaneously achieve high-resolution pixels and large-scale production. To this end, we construct efficient CsPbBr3 PeLEDs employing a vacuum deposition technique, which has been demonstrated as the most successful route for commercial organic LED displays. By carefully controlling the strength of the spatial confinement in CsPbBr3 film, its radiative recombination is greatly enhanced while the nonradiative recombination is suppressed. As a result, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of thermally evaporated PeLED reaches 8.0%, a record for vacuum processed PeLEDs. Benefitting from the excellent uniformity and scalability of the thermal evaporation, we demonstrate PeLED with a functional area up to 40.2 cm2 and a peak EQE of 7.1%, representing one of the most efficient large-area PeLEDs. We further achieve high-resolution patterned perovskite film with 100 μm pixels using fine metal masks, laying the foundation for potential display applications. We believe the strategy of confinement strength regulation in thermally evaporated perovskites provides an effective way to process high-efficiency and large-area PeLEDs towards commercial display panels.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diletta Morelli Venturi ◽  
Filippo Campana ◽  
Fabio Marmottini ◽  
Ferdinando Costantino ◽  
Luigi Vaccaro

<p>Zirconium based Metal-Organic Framework UiO-66 is to date considered one of the benchmark compound among stable MOFs and it has attracted a huge attention for its employment in many strategic applications. Large scale production of UiO-66 for industrial purposes requires the use of safe and green solvents, fulfilling the green chemistry principles and able to replace the use of <i>N,N</i>-Dimethyl-Formamide (DMF), which, despite its toxicity, is still considered the most efficient solvent for obtaining UiO-66 of high quality. Herein we report on a survey of about 40 different solvents with different polarity, boiling point and acidity, used for the laboratory scale synthesis of high quality UiO-66 crystals. The solvents were chosen according the European REACH Regulation 1907/2006 among those having low cost, low toxicity and fully biodegradable. Concerning MOF synthesis, the relevant parameters chosen for establishing the quality of the results obtained are the degree are the crystallinity, microporosity and specific surface area, yield and solvent recyclability. Taking into account also the chemical physical properties of all the solvents, a color code was assigned in order to give a final green assessment for the UiO-66 synthesis. Defectivity of the obtained products, the use of acidic modulators and the use of alternative Zr-salts have been also taken into consideration. Preliminary results lead to conclude that GVL (γ-valerolactone) is among the most promising solvents for replacing DMF in UiO-66 MOF synthesis. </p>


2021 ◽  
Vol 2115 (1) ◽  
pp. 012026
Author(s):  
Sonam Solanki ◽  
Gunendra Mahore

Abstract In the current process of producing vermicompost on a large-scale, the main challenge is to keep the worms alive. This is achieved by maintaining temperature and moisture in their living medium. It is a difficult task to maintain these parameters throughout the process. Currently, this is achieved by building infrastructure but this method requires a large initial investment and long-run maintenance. Also, these methods are limited to small-scale production. For large-scale production, a unit is developed which utilises natural airflow with water and automation. The main aim of this unit is to provide favourable conditions to worms in large-scale production with very low investment and minimum maintenance in long term. The key innovation of this research is that the technology used in the unit should be practical and easy to adopt by small farmers. For long-term maintenance of the technology lesser number of parts are used.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diletta Morelli Venturi ◽  
Filippo Campana ◽  
Fabio Marmottini ◽  
Ferdinando Costantino ◽  
Luigi Vaccaro

<p>Zirconium based Metal-Organic Framework UiO-66 is to date considered one of the benchmark compound among stable MOFs and it has attracted a huge attention for its employment in many strategic applications. Large scale production of UiO-66 for industrial purposes requires the use of safe and green solvents, fulfilling the green chemistry principles and able to replace the use of <i>N,N</i>-Dimethyl-Formamide (DMF), which, despite its toxicity, is still considered the most efficient solvent for obtaining UiO-66 of high quality. Herein we report on a survey of about 40 different solvents with different polarity, boiling point and acidity, used for the laboratory scale synthesis of high quality UiO-66 crystals. The solvents were chosen according the European REACH Regulation 1907/2006 among those having low cost, low toxicity and fully biodegradable. Concerning MOF synthesis, the relevant parameters chosen for establishing the quality of the results obtained are the degree are the crystallinity, microporosity and specific surface area, yield and solvent recyclability. Taking into account also the chemical physical properties of all the solvents, a color code was assigned in order to give a final green assessment for the UiO-66 synthesis. Defectivity of the obtained products, the use of acidic modulators and the use of alternative Zr-salts have been also taken into consideration. Preliminary results lead to conclude that GVL (γ-valerolactone) is among the most promising solvents for replacing DMF in UiO-66 MOF synthesis. </p>


RSC Advances ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (47) ◽  
pp. 37830-37836 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Wei ◽  
Linlin Guo ◽  
Xiaoyang Qiu ◽  
Peng Qu ◽  
Maotian Xu ◽  
...  

Although many routes have been developed that can efficiently improve the electrochemical performance of LiFePO4 cathodes, few of them meet the urgent industrial requirements of large-scale production, low cost and excellent performance.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1116 ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
Tarek I.A. Mashreki ◽  
Mohammad Afzaal

Nanocomposites containing inorganic semiconductor nanomaterials are of tremendous interest for low-cost 3rd generation solar cells. A variety of possible materials and structures could be potentially used to reduce processing costs which is highly attractive for large scale production of solar cells. Controlling the morphology and surface chemistry of nanomaterials remains a key challenge that has major knock-on effects in devices. Herein, an attempt is made to highlight some of the challenges and the possible solutions for depositing high quality thin film composites for solar cell devices.


CrystEngComm ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (21) ◽  
pp. 2989-2995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weikun Chen ◽  
Pinqiang Dai ◽  
Chunfu Hong ◽  
Chan Zheng ◽  
Weiguo Wang ◽  
...  

We demonstrate a green method based on sonochemistry for large-scale production of akaganéite nanoparticles and assemblies in low cost.


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