Research pick: Responsive anti-counterfeit ink - "Preparation of intelligent responsive printing materials and their application in anti-counterfeiting and packaging"

Research in the International Journal of Materials and Product Technology describes a responsive printing system designed to make anti-counterfeit labels more durable, easier to produce at scale and simpler to verify with a smart phone.

The system combines three elements: temperature- and light-responsive microcapsules, an ultraviolet (UV) ink formulated for high-speed printing, and a portable detection terminal. The microcapsules are tiny polymer shells containing functional materials and can be produced at room temperature. Their use in the printing process allows the printed material to respond to both temperature and light.

The team has used nanotechnology linkers to strengthen connections within the polymer capsules so that they are stable even in hot and humid conditions. The ink, which contains no volatile organic solvent, works well with high-speed screen and inkjet printing. Colour fastness is at more than 83 per cent after five periods in cold storage.

A smartphone-based detector can then be used to measure how light interacts with the anti-counterfeit label. The data is then analysed using a machine-learning system to verify the origin of a given label. Tests showed the system to have almost 97.5 per cent accuracy when checking highly convincing imitation labels.

The researchers say the system could be used to make responsive anti-counterfeiting materials for packaging across many different sectors.

Wu, H., Zhou, X. and Li, Q. (2026) ‘Preparation of intelligent responsive printing materials and their application in anti-counterfeiting and packaging’, Int. J. Materials and Product Technology, Vol. 70, No. 6, pp.63–82.

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