Detecting Counterfeit Goods with a Smartphone

Apr-16-14 Tiny, colorful microparticles able to be read with a smartphone could make it easier to verify the authenticity of goods or cash.

The tiny particles, developed at MIT, are equipped with colored stripes of nanocrystals. These crystals will glow brightly when exposed to near-infrared light, and the colors of the stripes can be tuned for each individual product. Each particle can carry six nanocrystal stripes, and the stripes can be created in one of nine colors—allowing for a wide array of combinations.

In theory, customers or merchants could determine the authenticity of goods by using a smartphone equipped with a magnifying glass and a near-infrared light source, such as a laser pointer.

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[GIZMAG.COM]
[MIT]

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