ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Barbituric acid derivative as fluorescent pigment in water-based flexographic ink for security applications

Dhanya Sunil, Kashmitha Muthamma, Suresh D. Kulkarni, Rikitha S. Fernandes, and Nilanjan Dey

Department of Chemistry, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India

E-mail: nilanjandey.iisc@gmail.com

Received: 5 June 2022  Accepted: 25 August 2022

Abstract:

Securing genuine artifacts from counterfeiting is one of the major challenges in today’s rapidly developing area of technology. Despite large number of luminescent materials, easily synthesizable, photo/thermostable, and biocompatible fluorophores are still scarce in the literature. Hence, we have used an easily synthesizable, biocompatible, red-light emitting anthracene conjugated barbituric acid (AB) pigment for developing water-based fluorescent flexographic ink formulation. The pigment carrying twisted-π bridging electron donor (D) as well as acceptor (A) units with aggregation-induced emission feature displayed excellent stability against thermal treatment and mechanical grinding. The UV dull security paper, coated as well as printed with flexo ink showed red color in the daylight and pinkish-red fluorescence under UV light. The fast-drying prints demonstrated good adhesion, moderate photostability, good abrasion resistance, and fluorescence indicating its potential to be used for various applications in anti-counterfeiting, and optical devices.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Anthracene-barbituric acid derivative; Fluorescence; Flexographic ink; Anti-counterfeiting

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-022-02455-y

Chemical Papers 77 (1) 119–127 (2023)