# US 2014/0370615 A1 · Use of optically anisotropic particles

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- Number: US 2014/0370615 A1
- Document ID: US20140370615A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/363,124
- Filed: 2012-12-07
- Published: 2014-12-18
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-22
- Assignees: Leibniz-Institut fuer neue Materialien gemeinnuetzige Gesellschaft mit; beschraenkter Haftung
- Applicants: Leibniz-Institut fuer neue Materialien gemeinnuet- zige Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
- Inventors: Tobias Kraus; Si Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140370615A1

## CPC

- G01N 21/88: Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
- G01N 21/49: within a body or fluid
- B82Y 15/00: Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
- G01N 21/553: {and using surface plasmons (fluorescence excitation G01N21/648; enhanced Raman G01N21/658)}
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

## Abstract

This invention relates to the use of optically anisotropic particles in order to non-destructively test or determine physical system parameters and/or the microscopic structure of systems. The mobility of the optically anisotropic particles is used to examine physical system parameters and/or the microscopic structure of systems. To this end, particle mobility is measured via an optical system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Use of optically anisotropic particles to investigate physical system parameters, particle mobility being measured via an optical system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Use according to claim 1, wherein the physical parameters are mechanical, as, in particular, curing and/or softening states, thermal or electrical system properties.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Use according to claim 1, wherein the optically anisotropic particles are metallic nanorods, which are added to the system under test.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Use according to claim 3, that wherein the metallic nanorods consist of, or are coated with, gold, silver, copper, nickel, zinc, platinum or metal oxides, more particularly zirconium dioxide, titanium dioxide, silicon dioxide, zinc oxide or aluminum oxide.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

Use according to claim 3, wherein the concentration of metallic nanorods in the system is less than or equal to 1014 m−3 and the resulting metal concentration less than 10−5 mol/l.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

Use according to claim 3, wherein the metal nanorods exhibit surface plasmons.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

Use according to claim 3, wherein the metallic rods have a core made of a polymer or glass.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

Use according to claim 3, wherein the metallic nanorods are suface-modified.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

Use according to claim 3, wherein the metallic nanorods have an aspect ratio greater than 2.5.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

Use according to claim 1, wherein the particles have a sphericity of less than 0.9 and their surfaces have edges and/or corners with a radius of less than 20 nm.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

Use according to claim 10, wherein the system is an organic or an inorganic system.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

Use according to claim 11, wherein the system is an organic system in which the state of aggregation is dependent on temperature and pressure.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

Use according to claim 12, wherein the organic system is a soft material, which is cross-linked.