nanofingerprint
NAY-noh-fing-ger-print
Definition
A unique, microscopic optical pattern formed by the random arrangement of nanoparticles that acts as a secure, non-reproducible physical identity marker for an object.
Etymology
This word is a modern compound formed from the prefix 'nano-' (derived from the Greek 'nanos' meaning 'dwarf,' referring to the billionth scale) and the noun 'fingerprint' (referring to the unique ridge patterns on a human finger used for identification).
In the news
Researchers created a 'nanofingerprint' by allowing nanoparticles to assemble into random structures, providing a physical security feature that is impossible to clone and can be verified using everyday light sources.
KAIST develops light-based artificial fingerprints to distinguish genuine products from counterfeits
Read the full article ↗Bioengineer.org