Fluorescents

A unique technology, based on new fluorescent nanoparticles, to efficiently tackle all counterfeiting issues that are hindering the manufacturing industry worldwide and on a daily basis, for an estimated loss of over 1 trillion dollars a year.

In the field of Materials Chemistry, substantial resources are invested in the synthesis of new compounds showing a strong fluorescence combined with a high chemical and thermal stability.

Fluorescent substances emit electromagnetic radiations after absorbing a radiation having a different – usually lower – wavelength. The most interesting examples of fluorescence occur when the absorbed radiation is in the UV range while the re-emitted light is in the visible spectrum.

Such fluorophores, used as pigments to be added to different types of matrices (polymers, paints, inks, pastes etc.), are compatible with a number of applications, ranging from biomedicine and optics to the textile industry, decorative arts and design, from quality control to anti-counterfeiting and product traceability.

A significant luminescence was lately observed in nanometric systems made of clusters of noble metals obtained through the reduction of a metal precursor with thiols as capping agents.

Thanks to its experience in the field of precious metal chemistry, Cabro Spa has recently joined forces with Punto Quantico, a spin-off from the Italian Institute for Composite and Biomedical Materials, National Research Council (IMCB-CNR). For quite some time, in fact, the Institute has focused its attention on the study and engineering of fluorescent nanocomposites (Quantum dots - QD) managing to develop a pretty simple but efficient synthesis method.

This cooperation has already led to the development of new special products for the anti-counterfeiting industry.

QDs are fluorescent nanostructured particles maintaining the physical, optical and mechanical properties of the various matrices they are dispersed in (thus being transparent in the visible spectrum) and emitting an intense luminous radiation when excited with low-cost UV lamps.

QDs emit different light colors depending on the size and nature of the nanoparticles. Being inorganic, they can be easily and evenly dispersed in polymer matrices, paints, gels and inks or, alternatively, printed on most substrates.

The aim of the cooperation between Cabro and PQ is to offer innovative anti-counterfeiting systems based on a unique combination of fluorescent pigments to easily and efficiently authenticate original products.

Check out our dedicated page at www.anticounterfeitingfluorescents.com