Integrated Textile Detection Platform for Positive Identification

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a novel textile coating and reading device for positive identification applications such as anti-counterfeit, textile brand verification, etc. The basis of this project is to use a layer-by-layer self-assembly process to control the interface between engineered textile substrates and nanomaterials. The resulting nanostructured composite materials may display a unique property that can be detected by a reading device. This technology allows for the precise control over the deposition of metal nanoparticle materials onto the surface of natural and synthetic textiles, which can be implemented into standard industrial processes. The broader/commercial impacts of this project will be the potential to provide a technology for positive identification and anti-counterfeit of textile products, which ranges from the basic clothing industry to military applications.