Spies delight! Scientists create INVISIBLE ink that can be seen under UV light and erased with a hairdryer
- System prints on a message or image on the manganese-coated paper
- It can be printed using a regular water-based inkjet device and a computer
- The ink is only visible underneath 254nm UV light, scientists say
- Heated by a hairdryer for 15 seconds will erase the message and it can be reused
Chinese scientists have created an invisible ink to keep precious information out of unwanted hands.
The water-based system can be printed in seconds and, after it has been read under ultraviolet light, disappears after a brief spell underneath a hairdryer.
A message is printed out by a water-jet printer on paper coated in a manganese layer and is invisible to the naked eye, but can be revealed under 254nm UV light.
Chinese scientists have created an invisible ink which would be ideal for keeping precious information out of unwanted hands and anything can be printed on the paper (pictured)
‘Information security is a topic that people are greatly concerned about, especially in the economic and military fields,’ says senior author Qiang Zhao from Nanjing University.
‘Therefore, the main purpose of our work is to provide a safe and practical solution.’
Document security is of paramount importance to governments and companies around the world and a simple invisible ink could be useful.
Researchers also mention that it is environmentally-friendly, with one sheet of paper able to be reused around 30 times.
The water-based system can be printed on in seconds and, after it has been read under ultraviolet light, disappears after a brief spell underneath a hairdryer (pictured)
Researchers also mention that it is environmentally-friendly, with one sheet of paper able to be reused around 30 times after being cleared (picture)
‘The rewritable feature significantly reduces the cost. The cost per print is estimated to be RMB0.014 ($0.002),’ said Dr Zhao.
‘Most fluorescent security inks on the market used to record confidential information are environmentally unfriendly and cannot be erased. The paper is only a disposable recording medium.’
The researchers are now looking to refine and improve the method.
‘Our work is to provide a practical printing method. Thus, we need to make sure that it’s non-toxic or has low harm to the human body,’ says Dr Zhao.
‘That’s why we use manganese complexes, which are environmentally friendly and low in toxicity.’
The research was published in the journal Cell.
