Use of luminescent nanocompounds for authenticating security documents
AssigneesFabrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda, Nanogap Sub-Nm Powder, Sociedad Anonima
InventorsManuel Arturo Lopez Quintela, Vicente Garcia Juez
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the use of nanocompounds as non deactivable security markers comprising a charge-transfer complex of at least two different size metal atomic quantum clusters (AQCs). These nanocompounds are luminescent, particularly fluorescent after external excitation. The invention also relates to security documents, articles or elements incorporating these markers as well as to a method and a system for detecting the same.
Claims19
A method of marking a document, article, or element for security enhancement thereof, said method comprising incorporating in said document, article, or element, a charge-transfer complex of at least two different size metal atomic quantum clusters (AQCs), Mn and M′n′, of general formula (I):
- Mn+M′n′− (I),
- wherein
- the metals, M and M′, of the metal AQCs are the same or different metals,
- Mn, is the smaller AQC which is present in its oxidized form, Mn+,
- M′n′, is the larger AQC which is present in its reduced form, M′n′−,
- Mn+ and M′n′− are bound by electrostatic interactions,
- n and n′ are respectively the number of metal atoms of M and M′, and
- n is smaller than n′
- as a marker for a security said document, article or element.
A security element, article or document which comprises a charge-transfer complex of at least two different size metal atomic quantum clusters (AQCs), Mn and M′n′, of general formula (I):
- Mn+M′n′− (I),
- wherein
- the metals, M and M′, of the metal AQCs are the same or different metals,
- Mn, is the smaller AQC which is present in its oxidized form, Mn+,
- M′n+, is the larger AQC which is present in its reduced form, M′n′−,
- Mn+ and M′n′− are bound by electrostatic interactions,
- n and n′ are respectively the number of metal atoms of M and M′, and
- n is smaller than n′.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.