“The ST25DA-C secure NFC tag can operate cryptographic operations required for Matter device commissioning using energy harvesting from the RF field,” according to the company. “This mechanism allows users to add unpowered devices to the smart home network. It also simplifies the installation of multiple accessories in parallel.”
It is an NFC Forum Type 4 (and ISO/IEC 14443 Type A) tag with a Matter NFC Transport Layer, based on Common Criteria-certified hardware, which “also targets SESIP level 3 certification to the GlobalPlatform Security Evaluation Standard for IoT platforms”, added ST.
It is also a device of two halves: with its wireless transceiver side powered and communicating inductively via a coil antenna with the 13.56MHz NFC reader field – hence its ability to commission inside unpowered devices; and its system interface side powered conventionally from 1.62-3.3V and communicating as a Type 4 tag with a host MCU via 400kHz I2C.
Secure storage, cryptographic primitives and protocols within handle Matter PASE (passcode-authenticated session establishment) based on SPAKE2+ protocol, authentication of Matter device conformance with Matter device attestation, NOC (node operational certificate), off-line configuration of the operational network (Thread), and online signature service required for CASE (certificate-authenticated session establishment).
Matter over-the-air firmware upgrade over I2C is implemented.
Operation is over -25°C to +85°C and the package is a DFN8.
It is sampling now, with mass production scheduled to begin in 2026.
Applications are foreseen in luminaires, air conditioning and security systems – cameras are a new addition in Matter 1.5.
ST has a data brief for the ST25DA-C here.
