Methods and systems for inspecting hierarchical powders and verifying the functionalization of powder surfaces

A method for inspecting surface-functionalized microparticles, said method comprising:

• (a) selecting at least one sample of hierarchical particle assemblies comprising microparticles and microparticle-surface-coated nanoparticles, wherein said microparticle-surface-coated nanoparticles are chemically and/or physically attached to said microparticles, and wherein, when surface functionalization is not complete, said sample further comprises free nanoparticles that are not chemically or physically attached to said microparticles;
• (b) obtaining a baseline particle-size measurement of nanoparticle-free microparticles, thereby providing a microparticle particle-size distribution;
• (c) subjecting said hierarchical particle assemblies to a sample particle-size measurement, thereby providing a sample particle-size distribution;
• (d) comparing said sample particle-size measurement to said baseline particle-size measurement;
• (e) if said sample particle-size measurement is statistically equivalent to said baseline particle-size measurement, then providing verification that there is complete surface functionalization due to the absence of said free nanoparticles;
• (f) if said sample particle-size measurement is statistically different than said baseline particle-size measurement, then subtracting said baseline particle-size measurement from said sample particle-size measurement, to calculate a free-nanoparticle particle-size distribution;
• and
• (g) determining a relative concentration of said free nanoparticles within said sample, based at least on said free-nanoparticle particle-size distribution.