Microscopic and invisible
ID Tags can enable individual
identification using colloidal
crystals Join us in considering the ideal form of a sustainable society with this new technology
that increases the traceability of products.

The momentum for sustainability is currently growing worldwide. Against this backdrop, the concept of Digital Product Passport (DPP) is progressing in the EU in particular.

The concept of DPP involves recording and releasing manufacturing information, design information, usage state, and other data. The purpose of this is to promote, for example, the use of products for a long time and the reuse of raw materials.

The most recent plans seek support for traceability starting with clothes, textile products, electronic devices, and other goods with a high environmental burden. It is expected that support for traceability will be sought in all products sold in the EU in the future. We believe this trend will then spread to Japan as well.

Development of ID Tags Using Ultra-small Colloidal Particles

Under these circumstances, we have focused our attention on the development of a new type of ID tag that can support traceability in a wide variety of products. Technology that forms colloidal crystals makes that possible. Colloidal crystals comprise colloidal particles of sizes from nanometers to micrometers, smaller than the diameter of a human hair, which are arranged in an orderly manner.

Reading and Encoding Special Patterns of Transmitted/Reflected Light

When we irradiate light on those colloidal crystals, that light is strongly transmitted/reflected in a specific direction to form a pattern. If we artificially generate and combine colloidal crystals with different distances and arrangements between the particles by giving the particles an electric charge, the crystals with different properties at each point generate different patterns. We can then read and encode those patterns.

We see the utilization of these colloidal crystals as ID tags to be one way in which functionality and market needs match. We believe that this is a technology that can greatly contribute to the development of a sustainable society and economy in the future.

The encoded patterns use light to authenticate products instead of radio waves. Therefore, they are also characterized by being easy to apply to metal products. In addition, although there are other technologies that authenticate products with light, these tags use reflective diffraction light (incident light reflected at an angle) instead of simple reflected light. This means another advantage they have is that they are also easy to apply to shiny materials.

Invisible ID Tags can support the traceability of various products. It is hoped that these ID tags will be utilized in luxury industries such as fashion, jewelry, and watches in particular. It is possible to attach these microscopic and invisible ID tags to products without impairing their design and without being noticeable even in micro-sized products. They can also be used to determine the authenticity of high-grade products actively distributed on the secondary market (buying and selling of secondhand goods).