A Novel Approach to Synthesise a Dual-Mode Luminescent Composite Pigment for Uncloneable High-Security Codes to Combat Counterfeiting

A strategy is demonstrated to protect valuable items, such as currency, pharmaceuticals, important documents, etc. against counterfeiting, by marking them with luminescent security codes. These luminescent security codes were printed by employing luminescent ink formulated from a cost effective dual-mode luminescent composite pigment of Gd1.7Yb0.2Er0.1O3 and Zn0.98Mn0.02S phosphors using commercially available PVC Gold medium. In the composite, Gd1.7Yb0.2Er0.1O3 and Zn0.98Mn0.02S account for upconversion and downconversion processes, respectively. The synthesis procedure of the composite involves the admixing of Gd1.7Yb0.2Er0.1O3 nanorods and Zn0.98Mn0.02S phosphor, synthesised by hydrothermal and facile solid-state reaction methods, respectively. The structural, morphological, microstructural, and photoluminescent features of Gd1.7Yb0.2Er0.1O3 nanorods, Zn0.98Mn0.02S phosphor and composite were characterised by using XRD, SEM, TEM, and photoluminescence (PL) techniques, respectively. The distribution of PL intensity of the printed pattern was examined by using confocal PL mapping microscopy. The obtained results reveal that security codes printed using ink formulated from this bi-luminescent composite pigment provide dual-stage security against counterfeiting.