Abstract: A device and method for detecting a phase transition between a liquid phase and a solid phase of a substance include a pair of electrodes, a sensing layer arranged in an electrical path between the pair of electrodes, and means for measuring a first electrical characteristic of the electrical path. The sensing layer includes a mixed ion and electron conducting composite material. The composite material has an electrical property, in particular electrical resistance, which shows a peak variation as a function of time at the phase transition, such as an onset of ice formation. Computing means process the first electrical characteristic to indicate an occurrence of the phase transition.

Abstract: An authentication method comprising obtaining (S101) a first stored user data, SUD, part provided by a user; obtaining (S102) a second SUD part from a storage location (152; 752); combining (S103) the first SUD part and the second SUD part to obtain a combined SUD; obtaining (S104) live user data (154; 756) from the user; comparing (S105) the live user data and the combined SUD; and, determining whether to authenticate (S105) based on the comparison