Tezpur University researchers invent nancomposite-based ink

A Correspondent

Tezpur: Researchers of Tezpur University’s Advanced Polymer and Nanomaterial Laboratory (ANPL) have invented a nancomposite-based ink that has scientifically been proven as a potential anti-counterfeiting material.

As per reports, the nanocomposite when put in an organic solvent turns into an ink that appears to be of a pale yellow colour under visible light and a vivid blue-green colour when brought under ultraviolet light of certain wavelength. Two of the researchers, Niranjan Karak and Rajarshi Bayan, have published the findings in an open-access global scientific journal named ‘ACS Omega’.

The composite was created by incorporating nanoparticles of a photoluminescent material known as graphic carbon nitride into a special Hyperbranched Polyruethane (HPU), say reports. The special polyurethane polymer was obtained by modifying the architecture of a polymer using pre-polarisation technique. The polymer, whose architecture was modified, had been derived from bio-waste of vegetable oils and petrochemicals.

The strong resultant composite when dipped in organic solvents produced the special ink which was also found to be water-resistant and stable under ambient conditions for several months. These amazing findings led the researchers to assume that the ink has a great potentiality of being used as an anti-counterfeiting material. Moreover, in order to find out the true potentiality of the special ink, the researchers even used it to write in paper and plastic.

The researchers found that the writing was not visible in daylight but glowed with a cyan hue when kept under UV light. These amazing findings proved that the special ink can be used as an anti-counterfeiting material.

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