Reversible logic-based image steganography using quantum dot cellular automata for secure nanocommunication

This study introduces a novel architecture for image steganography using reversible logic based on quantum dot cellular automata (QCA). Feynman gate is used to achieve the reversible encoder and decoder for image steganography. A Nanocommunication circuit for image steganography is shown using proposed encoder/decoder circuit. The proposed QCA circuits have lower quantum cost than traditional designs. It shows the cost effectiveness functionality of the proposed designs. The proposed circuit has 28.33% improvement in terms of area over complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor circuit. To perform image steganography LSB technique is used; signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), peak SNR and mean squared error (MSE) are also computed. The proposed QCA encoder/decoder circuit is suitable for reversible computing. To establish this, the heat energy dissipation by the proposed encoder/decoder circuit is estimated. The estimation shows that the encoder/decoder circuit has very low energy dissipation. Single missing/additional cell-based defect analysis is also explored in this study. Reliability of the circuit is tested against different temperatures. Implementation and testing of the circuit are achieved using QCADesigner tool. MATLAB is used to produce the input to the proposed circuit.