Surface-modified fluorescent carbon nanotubes for product verification

摘要

A material may include a medium and carbon nanotubes dispersed in the medium. Fluorescent moieties may be attached to functional groups on a first quantity of the carbon nanotubes. The fluorescent moieties may be in a concentration in the material sufficient to make the material fluoresce in the presence of radiation. The fluorescent moieties may have an emission wavelength that is in or below the visible spectrum. The carbon nanotubes may be dispersed in the medium in a concentration sufficient to make the material electrically conductive at or above the material's electrical percolation threshold. Any suitable product may include the material. Methods for verifying the authenticity of the product may include detecting emissive radiation, testing electrical conductivity, and determining the presence of a structural characteristic of the carbon nanotubes.

主权项

1. A material, comprising:
a medium; carbon nanotubes dispersed in the medium; first fluorescent moieties attached to functional groups on a first quantity of the carbon nanotubes, the first fluorescent moieties being in a concentration in the material sufficient to make the material fluoresce in the presence of radiation, wherein the first fluorescent moieties fluoresce at a first emission wavelength in the visible spectrum, wherein attached means covalently bonded; and second fluorescent moieties attached to functional groups on the first quantity of the carbon nanotubes in a concentration sufficient to make the material fluoresce in the presence of radiation, wherein a first fluorescent moiety and a second fluorescent moiety are attached to functional groups on the same carbon nanotube from the first quantity of the carbon nanotubes, wherein the second fluorescent moieties fluoresce at a second emission wavelength in the visible spectrum, and the first and second emission wavelengths are different wavelengths.