Terahertz radiation (typically 0.3-3THz) is one of the least accessible parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. However, many potential real-life applications in biology, manufacturing, security and diagnostics potentially accessible at these frequencies drive the interest in THz radiation. A key challenge in this area is that THz emitters rely on relatively expensive technologies and materials. As a result, they are challenging to scale on large areas and generally bulky and hard to integrate with other systems. Most importantly, embedding THz emitters in arbitrary objects is an open challenge that hinders the possibility of developing watermarking technologies based on THz radiation.
This project aimed to tackle this challenge by developing THINK, a Terahertz (THz) emitting ink that can be exploited to ‘paint’ an arbitrary surface to transform it into an optical-to-terahertz converter. The concept of an ultra-thin THz emitting ink originated within the research activity of the ERC-CoG project “TIMING” (European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme Grant Agreement No. 725046).
The specificity of the technology developed within this project (which is purposely named after the device) is that it does not have specific user requirements other than those typically associated with ink and pigments. This means not only that it can be deployed in a multitude of existing scenarios, surpassing some of the classical practical limitations associated with terahertz technologies, but it is also compatible with relatively simple and cost-effective ink-deposition technology (e.g. ink-jet).
The project specifically targeted the functionalization of THINK in the key application area of anti-counterfeiting. While some technical details of THINK are still to be considered confidential at this stage, the project has produced a significant application-targeted evolution of the technology and the realisation of a demonstrator, increasing its industrial technology readiness. In particular, our results show that specific embodiments of THINK can be programmed and information can be encoded into it, as the features of the terahertz radiation emitted by the ink can be specifically written and erased at will after deposition.
The project explored the market potentials identifying potential stakeholders and engaging in the protection of the relevant foreground IP generated, leading to a phase of industrial-oriented development.
