Solid-state Syntheses of Zn2GeO4 Phosphors for Anti-counterfeiting Applications — 108p — Zishen Yang, Dr. Chaoyang Jiang

In recent years, there has been considerable progress in developing anti-counterfeiting techniques to combat the ongoing production and trafficking of counterfeit goods. However, counterfeiters can reverse-engineer most of these techniques, allowing them to bypass these anti-counterfeiting measures. Additionally, many anti-counterfeiting labels demand expensive readout systems, limiting potential end users. Therefore, it is essential to develop novel anti-counterfeiting techniques with unique properties and a straightforward verification process. This work uses a solid-state synthesis method to fabricate a manganese-doped zinc-germinate material with distinctive photoluminescent properties, including fluorescence, phosphorescence, photo-stimulated luminescence, and photo-stimulated persistent luminescence. Furthermore, switching emission modes could be done in sequence, producing a dynamic optical effect. Such phosphor can be applied as an additive to produce functional paints for producing anti-counterfeiting labels. As a result, our labels showed excellent optical response to both ultraviolet radiation and near-infrared stimulation. This study makes a significant contribution to exploring innovative security materials and presents practical implications for advancing authentication technologies.

University of South Dakota
Dr. Chaoyang Jiang