GIST Develops Next-Generation Anti-Tampering Technology for Security

Implementation of Visible-Infrared Light Control Structure Using Multi-Spectrum Photonics Architecture

Expected Application in Next-Generation Anti-Counterfeiting Security Solutions

The research team led by Professor Song Young-min from the Department of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering at GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology) has successfully developed a next-generation multi-spectral anti-counterfeiting display for security purposes, which contains infrared information invisible to the naked eye within images rendered in various colors. Photo by GIST.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] On the 7th, a research team led by Professor Song Young-min of the Department of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering at GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology) announced that they have succeeded in developing a next-generation multi-spectral anti-counterfeiting display for security purposes, which contains infrared information invisible to the naked eye within images rendered in various colors.

The display developed by the research team can reproduce a wide range of colors in the visible light wavelength band, appearing as ordinary color printing to the naked eye, but when observed with a thermal imaging camera that detects the infrared spectrum, hidden information can be revealed.

Unlike existing security elements based on holography or fluorescent materials, this display can contain multiple pieces of information without revealing itself as a security device, thus providing a high level of security.

Previous multi-spectral photonics technologies faced difficulties in development because optical properties had to be independently controlled for each wavelength. However, the research team succeeded in implementing two spectra within a single structure by applying different optical resonance structures to individually control the visible and infrared bands.

For the visible light region, an ultrathin color-generating structure composed of metal and high-absorption materials capable of coloration at the scale of tens of nanometers was applied. For the infrared region, a plasmonic structure utilizing micro-hole patterns selectively achieved strong absorption, realizing multi-spectral characteristics at an extremely thin thickness (~3 μm).

This technology overcomes the previous limitation of being producible only on very restricted substrates for visible color rendering and infrared information encoding, enabling implementation on very thin flexible device substrates.

Additionally, since no separate energy is required for operation, it can be applied in various fields requiring security such as finance, government offices, and the military.

Professor Song Young-min of GIST stated, “The technology to prevent counterfeiting has been further enhanced by inducing multi-spectral light control,” and added, “In the future, by applying materials capable of active modulation, it is expected to be developed into a next-generation ultra-compact security display that can change images in real time.”

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