Physically Unclonable Surfaces via Dewetting of Polymer Thin Films

From anti-counterfeiting to biotechnology applications, there is a strong demand for encoded surfaces with multiple security layers that are prepared by stochastic processes and adaptable deterministic fabrication approaches. Here, we present dewetting instabilities in nanoscopic (thickness <100 nm) polymer films as form of physically unclonable function (PUF). The inherent randomness involved the process presents highly suitable platform fabricating surfaces. thermal annealing-induced poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP) on polystyrene-grafted substrates enables randomly positioned functional features separated at microscopic length scale, requirement set optical authentication systems. At first level, PUFs can be simply readily verified via reflection visible light. Area-specific electrostatic interactions between P2VP citrate-stabilized gold nanoparticles allow plasmonic PUFs. surface-enhanced Raman scattering together incorporation taggants facilitates molecular vibration-based layer. patterning opportunities hybrid labels, which resolved through both pathways. adaptability broad range nanoscale materials, simplicity, versatility, compatibility conventional approaches, high levels stability offer key encoding applications.