Scientists from Novosibirsk State University were awarded patents for luminescent dyes based on rare earth metal compounds and for a technology that uses them to protect against counterfeiting documents and trademarks.
The patented developments were the result of a project to research the properties of chemical compounds of two rare earth metals - europium and terbium. This work was supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation. These compounds are luminescent (emit light in response to UV radiation) and the intensity of their glow decreases in response to the presence of toxic pollutants in the environment - heavy metals, antibiotics, pesticides. Obtaining effective indicators of this pollution was one of the primary project goals.
Project participant Andrey Potapov explained,
These customizable dyes, applied as a special mark on a document or product packaging, can act as a three-stage anti-counterfeiting system. To check the authenticity, it is enough to shine an ultraviolet light on the mark and compare the indicators obtained with those stated by the manufacturer or the organization that issued the document. Even with a slight deviation in the composition of the dye, 1-2% of the content of any of the elements, these indicators will not match.
According to Potapov, the correspondence of the shade to the original can be checked using a smartphone by installing a standard application that analyzes the color. It is technically not difficult to develop another application for mobile devices that will measure the attenuation time after the flash. In this instance it involves milliseconds and these intervals can be measured without complex equipment.
The developers expect to release a pilot batch of dyes by the end of the year. This will make it possible to initiate series discussions about the implementation of the new technology with potential industrial partners.
