SERS-active nanoparticle aggregate technology for tags and seals

Conference · Thu Jun 03 04:00:00 EDT 2010

OSTI ID:1016116

Brown, Leif O ^[1]; Montoya, Velma M ^[1]; Havrilla, George J ^[1]; Doorn, Stephen K ^[1]

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1. Los Alamos National Laboratory

In this paper, we describe our efforts to create a modern tagging and sealing technology for international safeguards application. Our passive tagging methods are based on SANAs (SERS-Active Nanoparticle Aggregates; SERS: Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering). These SANAs offer robust spectral barcoding capability in an inexpensive tag/seal, with the possibility of rapid in-field verification that requires no human input. At INMM 2009, we introduced SANAs, and showed approaches to integrating our technology with tags under development at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL). Here, we will focus on recent LANL development work, as well as adding additional dimensionality to the barcoding technique. The field of international safeguards employs a broad array of tags, seals, and tamper-indicating devices to assist with identification, tracking, and verification of components and materials. These devices each have unique strengths suited to specific applications, and span a range of technologies from passive metal cup seals and adhesive seals to active, remotely monitored fiber optic seals. Regardless of the technology employed, essential characteristics center around security, environmental and temporal stability, ease of use, and the ability to provide confidence to all parties. Here, we present a new inexpensive tagging technology that will deliver these attributes, while forming the basis of either a new seal, or as a secure layer added to many existing devices. Our approach uses the Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) response from SANAs (SERS-Active Nanoparticle Aggregates, Figure 1) to provide a unique identifier or signature for tagging applications. SANAs are formed from gold or silver nanoparticles in the 40-80 nm size range. A chemical dye is installed on the nanoparticle surface, and the nanoparticles are then aggregated into ensembles of {approx}100 to 500 nm diameter, prior to being coated with silica. The silica shell protects the finished SANA from environmental or chemical attack, while changing the dye provides each SANA with a unique signature for the tagging application. Typical dyes may include the classes of materials used as textile dyes, food colorings, pH dyes, etc.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC52-06NA25396
• OSTI ID: 1016116
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-10-03773; LA-UR-10-3773
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ADHESIVES
DYES
FIBER OPTICS
FOOD
GOLD
LANL
SAFEGUARDS
SANDIA NATIONAL LABORATORIES
SCATTERING
SECURITY
SILICA
SILVER
STABILITY
TEXTILES
VERIFICATION