Multilevel physical unclonable function based on silver nanostructures randomly integrated into the crystalline silicon wafer
M. Fedorova,
E. Petrova,
A. Larin,
M. Sandomirskii,
A. Ermina,
S. Pavlov,
Yu. Zharova,
D. Permyakov,
V. Yaroshenko,
D. Zuev https://doi.org/10.17586/2220-8054-2025-16-6-785-790
Abstract
We present an optical physical unclonable function (PUF) based on silver nanostructures randomly formed on a crystalline silicon wafer through galvanic displacement and thermal annealing. The process produces nanostructures with stochastic spatial distribution and morphology, resulting in unpredictable nonlinear optical responses. The hybrid Ag–Si interface generates two independent signals: photoluminescence (PL) and second-harmonic generation (SHG). Spatial PL and SHG maps were binarized and analyzed using standard PUF metrics. SHG demonstrated higher entropy and more balanced bit distribution, making it the preferred encoding channel, while PL provides an additional verification layer. The fabrication method is scalable, lithography-free, and compatible with standard silicon processing.
Supporting agencies: Part of this work related to the photoluminescence measurements was supported by Russian Science Foundation project # 25-72-20030, https://rscf.ru/en/project/25-72-20030/ Part of this work related to the PUF labels creation and studies is supported by the Russian Science Foundation # 25-12-00310, https://rscf.ru/en/project/25-12-00310/
About the Authors
M. Fedorova
ITMO University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Maria Fedorova – School of Physics and Engineering, Faculty of Physics
St. Petersburg
E. Petrova
ITMO University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena Petrova – School of Physics and Engineering, Faculty of Physics
St. Petersburg
A. Larin
ITMO University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Artem Larin – School of Physics and Engineering, Faculty of Physics
St. Petersburg
M. Sandomirskii
ITMO University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Martin Sandomirskii – School of Physics and Engineering, Faculty of Physics
St. Petersburg
A. Ermina
Ioffe Institute
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Anna Ermina
194021, St. Petersburg
S. Pavlov
Ioffe Institute
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Sergey Pavlov
194021, St. Petersburg
Yu. Zharova
Ioffe Institute
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Yuliya Zharova
St. Petersburg
D. Permyakov
ITMO University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Dmitry Permyakov – School of Physics and Engineering, Faculty of Physics
St. Petersburg
V. Yaroshenko
ITMO University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Vitaly Yaroshenko – School of Physics and Engineering, Faculty of Physics
St. Petersburg
D. Zuev
ITMO University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Dmitry Zuev – School of Physics and Engineering, Faculty of Physics
St. Petersburg
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Review
For citations:
Fedorova M., Petrova E., Larin A., Sandomirskii M., Ermina A., Pavlov S., Zharova Yu., Permyakov D., Yaroshenko V., Zuev D. Multilevel physical unclonable function based on silver nanostructures randomly integrated into the crystalline silicon wafer. Nanosystems: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics. 2025;16(6):785-790. https://doi.org/10.17586/2220-8054-2025-16-6-785-790
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