Development Of Inkjet Printing Based Anti-Counterfeiting Systems And Modules For Real Time Labeling

Project Title

Development Of Inkjet Printing Based Anti-Counterfeiting Systems And Modules For Real Time Labeling

Project Area of Specialization Internet of ThingsProject Summary

This project aims to solve two major issues. The first issue is the global counterfeiting and piracy of products whose ever increasing value is projected to reach $3 trillion by 2022. In this project we will develop an anti-counterfeiting system, by using near field communication, to ensure originality and authenticity of products. The second issue is that of relabeling of products at retailer stores. At large markets (i.e. wallmart, Carrefour etc.) a large quantity of products (i.e. meat/dairy products etc.) are wasted just because they could not be relabeled or put on promotion properly and timely. Using RFID technology we will develop a relabeling system which will allow retailers to change the prices, track the information (expiry date, model number etc) and put products on promotions wirelessly, timely before they get expired. The long term of goal of this project is to develop both these systems in printed domain but development of complete printed systems is not possible in one year project. So using inkjet printing, we will print some modules (i.e. a transistor, a battery and a solar cell) as a proof of concept.

Project Objectives

The objectives of the project are following:
The first objective of project is to develop an anti-Counterfeiting system based on NFC and integrated through a mobile application.
The second objective of the project is to develop smart labeling and real time labeling system using RFID technology.
The third main objective of this project is to print a power source (battery), Organic  solar cell and organic transistor which will serve as basic building blocks for the printing of NFC chip.

Project Implementation Method

To develop anti-counterfeiting system, we will employ near field communication technology. Many other technologies such as barcodes, QR codes, forensic makers, temper evident seals, RFID etc. are currently used in market for this purpose but all these technologies, either do not provide a suitable solution to the problem or are too costly to be used for inexpensive products. After adequate research we found NFC is one such technology which is highly secure as it allows a very short range communication which cannot be interrupted and is also inexpensive since it is easily accessible by smart phone and does not require any separate reader. At present this technology is more expensive than barcodes and QR codes but when this system will be developed in printed domain the overall cost will be reduced largely. We will ensure the originality of products by using a mobile application. Every NTag 213 (NFC tag) has a unique tag ID that is read only, by storing that ID in database and comparing the product’s tag ID with the one stored in database, we will ensure the originality of the product and a trusted packaging company has pasted the tag. To protect the relabeling the tag will be placed in such a way that it will get tempered on unpacking the product. The tag will also store the information (expiry, model etc.) of the product and user can view it by using the app.

For the development of smart relabeling system, we will be using a secure wireless communication module interfaced with a display. For the real time labelling we will update the communication tag values through a writer and it will update the stored values in the tags and will display the values in real time. Through this system we can update the prices and expiry dates in real time.                                                            Since the long term goal of this project is development of both systems in printed domain so as a proof of concept, we will print a transistor, a solar cell and a battery using inkjet printer. For printing transistor, we will use a top gate bottom contact structure of organic thin film transistors in which Kapton will be used as substrate. Then a thin film of carbon nanotubes will be printed over Kapton and then source and drain will be printed using silver nano particle inks. Then a AZ5214 photoresist will be printed as dielectric material and finally gate will be printed at the top using silver nanoparticle ink.

For printing of organic solar cell, we will use different inks to print different conducting layers. We will use Indium tin oxide (ITO) and silver to print cathode and anode respectively. Active layer material will be P3HT and ICBA while hole transport layer and electron transport layer will be printed by inks of Molybdenum (VI) oxide and ZnO.

For printing of battery, we will firstly prepare inks for components of battery. Inks will be prepared for the anode, cathode, current collectors, electrolyte and separator then it will be packed in a substrate according to the parallel or sandwich structure. 

Benefits of the Project

When fake or pirated products enter the market, consumer safety is jeopardized, and people lose confidence in the brands they trust. By using the developed anti-counterfeiting system customers can easily ensure the authenticity of the product before buying it. 

In pharmaceuticals industry, counterfeit medicines can have severely adverse effects on patients health and in some cases can be fatal. Before buying any pharmaceutical product one can easily check its originality by just tapping their phone on the NFC Tag printed on its packing.

Using Real time labelling system, the chances of human error in manual updating of prices and other information will be reduced significantly. 

The second benefit of this system is that food waste can be reduced. It will become easy to put goods on promotions in minutes. The system will save labor work in manually updating the tags in the retailers store.

In the long run when both these systems will be developed in printed domain the cost of these systems will also be reduced and their performance will also be improved as compared to pre existing systems.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

For an anti-counterfeiting system an app will be developed which will serve two purposes. Firstly, it will show the details about the product by reading them from the NFC chip and secondly by using asymmetric cryptography a unique number will be stored in NFC chip or we can use the read-only tag id of the tag for this purpose. On tapping the phone the app will cross check encrypted id from database if it match with existing id in database it will show a message of original otherwise pirated will be displayed on the screen.

For the development of smart relabeling system, we will be using a secure wireless communication module interfaced with a display. For the real time labelling we will update the communication tag values through a writer and it will update the stored values in the tags and will display the values in real time. Through this system we can update the prices and expiry dates in real time. 

The transistor will be printed using inkjet printing over a flexible substrate using conductive inks. We will show the results obtained by applying different tests to check its performance. Our aim is to achieve higher operating frequency and shorter channel length as compared to that achived for printed OTFTs yet.

The ink-jet printed organic solar cell will absorb sunlight and will show output voltage. We aim to achieve an efficiency of more than 4% for printed organic solar cell.

For printing of battery, we will firstly prepare inks for components of battery. Inks will be prepared for the anode, cathode, current collectors, electrolyte and separator then it will be packed in a substrate according to the parallel or sandwich structure.

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry ManufacturingOther Industries Security Core Technology Internet of Things (IoT)Other Technologies OthersSustainable Development Goals Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	79851
NTAG213	Equipment	10	130	1300
RFID Tags	Equipment	10	450	4500
Ag Nano Particle Ink	Equipment	1	32051	32051
Az5214 Photoresist	Equipment	1	32000	32000
Miscellaneous	Miscellaneous	1	10000	10000