GS III-Security
Context:
Indian scientists have developed a nanoparticle-based security ink to enhance anti-counterfeiting measures.
What is Security Printing?
Used to prevent forgery in critical documents like banknotes, passports, and cheques.
Features:
- Human-Detectable: Watermarks, holograms, optically variable ink.
- Machine-Detectable: RFID chips, digital watermarks, security threads.
Role of Nanoparticles in Security Printing
Nanoparticles (<100 nm): Have unique optical, magnetic, and chemical properties.
Significance:
- Reacts with light & magnetic fields, making it ideal for anti-counterfeiting.
- 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded for semiconductor nanoparticle research, highlighting its global importance.
Development of the New Security Ink
Composition:
- Strontium bismuth fluoride (Sr₂BiF₇) nanoparticles doped with lanthanide ions.
Manufacturing Method:
- Made using a coprecipitation process involving metal salts & precipitation agents.
- Blended with PVC ink for enhanced binding & durability.
Unique Features:
- Fluorescence in UV & near-infrared light (glows in different colors).
- Stable across brightness, temperature & humidity changes.
Significance for India
- Strengthens Anti-Counterfeiting Measures: Helps secure currency, documents & IDs.
- Boosts Indigenous R&D: Reduces reliance on imported security features.
Environmental Stability: Ensures long-lasting security in diverse conditions.
India’s nano-security ink innovation enhances document security while promoting self-reliance in advanced technology.