SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRINTING PATTERNS USING NEAR INFRARED UPCONVERTING INKS

摘要

The present invention relates generally to using upconverting inks for producing highly-resolved patterns for, inter alia, security applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of sols (inks) and printing processes that produce well-defined printed features consisting of polymers impregnated with luminescent upconversion nanocrystals. The patterns printed using such inks and processes may exhibit defined shapes, characters of text, and various other types of images.

主权项

1. A system for printing patterns onto a substrate comprising:
a. a near infrared (NIR)-to-visible upconverting ink, wherein the ink comprises nanocrystals that host at least two lanthanide metals, wherein the nanocrystals are capped with an organic ligand, and wherein the ink is formed by mixing the nanocrystals with a polymer in a solvent capable of dissolving the polymer; and b. wherein the ink is directly deposited onto the substrate in a predetermined pattern; c. wherein the predetermined pattern has little or no post-processing.