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Optical identification using imperfections in 2D materials

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
Article number045021
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>28/09/2017
<mark>Journal</mark>2D Materials
Issue number4
Volume4
Number of pages8
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date8/09/17
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

The ability to uniquely identify an object or device is important for authentication [1]. Imperfections, locked into structures during fabrication, can be used to provide a fingerprint that is challenging to reproduce. In this paper, we propose a simple optical technique to read unique information from nanometer-scale defects in 2D materials. Imperfections created during crystal growth or fabrication lead to spatial variations in the bandgap of 2D materials that can be characterized through photoluminescence measurements. We show a simple setup involving an angle- adjustable transmission filter, simple optics and a CCD camera can capture spatially- dependent photoluminescence to produce complex maps of unique information from 2D monolayers. Atomic force microscopy is used to verify the origin of the optical signature measured, demonstrating that it results from nanometer-scale imperfections. This solution to optical identification with 2D materials could be employed as a robust security measure to prevent counterfeiting.