SQCA: symmetric key-based crypto-codec for secure nano-communication using QCA

Security in quantum dot cellular automata (SQCA) is an emerging trend in the arena of nanotechnology. Its features are high computing speed, smaller size and low power depletion in comparison to transistor oriented technology. This article proposes a nanoscale Crypto-Codec circuit which produces cipher texts in order to obtain security during nanocommunication. Single layer crossing is used to design the Crypto-Codec circuit to minimize the fabrication difficulty. In this article higher attention is given to obtain high level of security by providing two layers of security using two different keys at two levels. Cryptographic communication architecture is proposed employing Crypto-Codecs and 2 × 2 Crossbar switch for authentic information sharing. The result resembles with the theoretical values, which endorse the precision of the proposed circuit. Circuit density of the design is calculated to prove that QCA circuits possess higher devise density in comparison to CMOS circuit. Stuck-at-fault analysis is performed to obtain faultless design. The proposed circuit is designed using QCA designer tool.