The invention relates to a plasmonic optical security component comprising two layers (2, 4) made of transparent dielectric material and a metal layer (3) arranged between said transparent dielectric material layers in order to form two dielectric-metal interfaces (31, 32). The metal layer is structured to form, on a first coupling region, a first periodic, two-dimensional coupling array (C.sub.1) which is capable of coupling surface plasmon modes, which are supported by said dielectric-metal interfaces, to an incident light ray, the first coupling array having a profile which does not have point symmetry in any of the directions thereof, and, on a second coupling region, a second periodic, two-dimensional coupling array (C.sub.2) which is capable of coupling surface plasmon modes, which are supported by said dielectric-metal interfaces, to an incident light ray, the second coupling array having a profile which does not have point symmetry in any of the directions thereof and is different from that of the first coupling array.

The present application relates to an anti-counterfeiting object including a face with an optical identification marking which is readable by the eye and/or by a machine, and an authentication volume, the authentication volume extending from the face in the thickness (z) direction so as to be accessible from the face in order to be read by X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The authentication volume is a composite of a first material, referred to as the authentication material, and at least one second material, the authentication volume constituting a material volume of at least 5 mm.sup.3. The authentication material includes at least one amorphous phase, at least one crystalline phase and at least one complex metal phase. The second material is typically a polymer. The application may advantageously be implemented by 3D printing.

The present application relates to an anti-counterfeiting object including a face with an optical identification marking which is readable by the eye and/or by a machine, and an authentication volume, the authentication volume extending from the face in the thickness (z) direction so as to be accessible from the face in order to be read by X-ray diffractometry (XRD). The authentication volume is a composite of a first material, referred to as the authentication material, and at least one second material, the authentication volume constituting a material volume of at least 5 mm.sup.3. The authentication material includes at least one amorphous phase, at least one crystalline phase and at least one complex metal phase. The second material is typically a polymer. The application may advantageously be implemented by 3D printing.

A security element for manufacturing value documents provides at least one image, formed by a grating structure which has a plurality of trough-shaped microcavities. The microcavities have a structure width from 0.5 μm to 3 μm and an aspect ratio of 0.4 or greater, a metal-containing coating is applied to the grating structure, and in the grating structure the trough-shaped microcavities are separated from each other respectively by strips which are planar and respectively more than 200 nm and maximally 1,200 nm wide.

A security element for manufacturing value documents provides at least one image, formed by a grating structure which has a plurality of trough-shaped microcavities. The microcavities have a structure width from 0.5 μm to 3 μm and an aspect ratio of 0.4 or greater, a metal-containing coating is applied to the grating structure, and in the grating structure the trough-shaped microcavities are separated from each other respectively by strips which are planar and respectively more than 200 nm and maximally 1,200 nm wide.

The present invention relates to the use of nanosystems as non deactivable security markers comprising metal atomic quantum clusters (AQCs) of at least two different size distributions encapsulated in a cavity with an inner diameter less than or equal to approximately 10 nm. These nanosystems are luminescence, particularly fluorescence after external excitation. The invention also relates to security documents, articles or elements incorporating these markers as well as to a method and a system for detecting the same.

The present invention relates to the use of nanosystems as non deactivable security markers comprising metal atomic quantum clusters (AQCs) of at least two different size distributions encapsulated in a cavity with an inner diameter less than or equal to approximately 10 nm. These nanosystems are luminescence, particularly fluorescence after external excitation. The invention also relates to security documents, articles or elements incorporating these markers as well as to a method and a system for detecting the same.

A display member according to this invention includes a plurality of pixels. At least one of the plurality of pixels includes a relief structure formation layer including a first region configured to display a predetermined color on a condition, and a second region different from the first region, a first layer made of a first material, and covering at least the first region, and a second layer made of a second material different from the first material, and covering the first layer. The display member displays an image based on a distribution of the first region on the condition that the display member is observed in the oblique direction, and displays an image based on a distribution of the second region on a condition that the display member is observed with transmitted light.

A near infrared absorbing-fine-particle dispersion liquid having absorption in a near infrared region, having clear contrast, and being applicable to offset printing; a method for producing the same; an anti-counterfeit ink composition using the near infrared absorbing-fine-particle dispersion liquid; and anti-counterfeit printed matter using the near infrared absorbing-fine-particles. The near infrared absorbing-fine-particle dispersion liquid contains a solvent of one or more from vegetable oils or vegetable oil-derived compounds; near infrared absorbing-fine-particles of 2 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less, selected from one or more of hexaboride fine-particles expressed by formula XB.sub.a (where X is one or more kinds of specified elements, and 4.0≤a≤6.2); and a dispersant soluble in solvent and having a fatty acid in its structure, where the viscosity is 180 mPa.Math.s or less. The anti-counterfeit printed matter is excellent in anti-counterfeit effect due to the near infrared absorbing-fine-particles.

A near infrared absorbing-fine-particle dispersion liquid having absorption in a near infrared region, having clear contrast, and being applicable to offset printing; a method for producing the same; an anti-counterfeit ink composition using the near infrared absorbing-fine-particle dispersion liquid; and anti-counterfeit printed matter using the near infrared absorbing-fine-particles. The near infrared absorbing-fine-particle dispersion liquid contains a solvent of one or more from vegetable oils or vegetable oil-derived compounds; near infrared absorbing-fine-particles of 2 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less, selected from one or more of hexaboride fine-particles expressed by formula XB.sub.a (where X is one or more kinds of specified elements, and 4.0≤a≤6.2); and a dispersant soluble in solvent and having a fatty acid in its structure, where the viscosity is 180 mPa.Math.s or less. The anti-counterfeit printed matter is excellent in anti-counterfeit effect due to the near infrared absorbing-fine-particles.