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Eu doped NaYF4@Er:TiO2 nanoparticles for tunable ultraviolet light based anti-counterfeiting applications

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Abstract

In this work, NaYF4:Eu@TiO2:Er nanomaterial is synthesized via sol–gel method. Various characterization techniques such as FESEM, HRTEM, XRD, EDS FTIR and XPS confirmed the successful formation of NaYF4:Eu@TiO2:Er nanoparticles. The average particle size is found to be 15 nm. Also, UV–Vis–IR and PL spectrometry verified the biluminescent properties of the synthesized material. It is then investigated as biluminescent security ink to be used for anti-counterfeiting applications. The results showed that the designed biluminescent security ink exhibits strong yellow and purple emission under 275 nm and 325 nm excitations, respectively. A written material was kept for 3 months under hot (40 °C) and humid (85%) environment and the obtained results were identical without any deterioration in their luminescence intensities even after such a prolonged time. Moreover, this written material also showed stability under the exposure of different chemical solvents (ethanol, glycerol and acetone).

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Acknowledgements

The corresponding author acknowledges the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), India for the support (File No. EEQ/2016/000119).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Jammu, Jammu, J&K, 180006, India

    Anoop Singh & Sandeep Arya

  2. Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Jamia Milia Islamia (Central University), Jamia Nagar, New Delhi, 110025, India

    Manika Khanuja & Aurangzeb Khurram Hafiz

  3. Advance Material and Device Division, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Ram Datt

  4. Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Masdar Institute, Masdar City, 54224, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

    Vinay Gupta

  5. Department of Mechanical System Science, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Yamagata University, Jonan 4-3-16, Yonezawa, Yamagata, 992-8510, Japan

    Ajit Khosla

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  1. Anoop Singh
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  2. Sandeep Arya
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Correspondence to Sandeep Arya.

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Singh, A., Arya, S., Khanuja, M. et al. Eu doped NaYF4@Er:TiO2 nanoparticles for tunable ultraviolet light based anti-counterfeiting applications. Microsyst Technol 28, 295–304 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-019-04734-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-019-04734-3

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