An eco-friendly and anti-counterfeiting “smart labeling” technique based on metamaterials. (Image courtesy of the Ministry of Science and ICT)
SEOUL, Apr. 26 (Korea Bizwire) – A groundbreaking new labeling technology that prevents forgery and counterfeiting by engraving information instead of using adhesive stickers has been developed by a team of researchers in South Korea, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
The research, led by professor Rho Junsuk of the Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), successfully created an eco-friendly and anti-counterfeiting “smart labeling” technique based on metamaterials. Their findings were published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Food on April 25.
Metamaterials are artificially engineered materials that do not occur naturally in the environment.
Traditional food labels, typically in the form of simple ink stickers, are susceptible to the manipulation of information such as country of origin or ingredient details. Moreover, these labels contribute to waste generation, and the adhesives used can hinder the recycling process of plastic or glass containers.
Rho’s team developed a technology that creates a metasurface composed of nanometer-scale structures formed from water-soluble, environmentally friendly materials. This metasurface can be printed onto fruits or plastic containers in the shape of a QR code.
The researchers explained that these metasurfaces cannot be detached and possess vivid structural colors, enabling the engraving of characters even smaller than the microscopic text found on banknotes, effectively preventing counterfeiting.
Structural colors arise from the varying reflection of light due to the intricate patterns or structures within a material.
The labels themselves are remarkably thin, measuring only around 300 nanometers in thickness, and are water-soluble and harmless to humans, according to the research team.
Interestingly, when exposed to high humidity levels for an extended period, the labels’ colors fade, potentially enabling their use as humidity sensors to detect food spoilage.
The Ministry of Science and ICT stated that it will collaborate with relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, to support the commercialization of this innovative technology.
Rho expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “Through the convergence of optics, materials, and nanotechnology – an approach that has not been attempted before – we have achieved physical anti-counterfeiting capabilities that can be applied to a wide range of materials, including fruits, seafood, plastics, and glass bottles. This is a meaningful and symbolic example of convergence research.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
