Patent ID: 7576538
Filing Date: 2009-08-18
Classification: G01R,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of probing a surface comprising: a. providing a noble gas, wherein said noble gas has a nuclear electric quadrupole moment; b. hyperpolarizing said noble gas to generate a purified hyperpolarized noble gas substantially free of alkali metal vapor; c. introducing said purified hyperpolarized noble gas to said surface, wherein said gas is capable of contacting said surface; and d. detecting an event that is a nuclear electric quadrupole interaction, wherein said event is generated by surface contact of said introduced purified hyperpolarized noble gas, thereby probing said surface wherein the probing provides a measure of surface-to-volume ratio, surface shape, surface orientation with respect to a magnetic field, surface chemical composition, surface hydration, surface porosity, surface temperature distribution, adsorption of chemicals onto said surface, absorption of chemicals into said surface, surface grafting, surface wetting, surface electrochemical treatment, surface plasma treatment, surface chemical vapor deposition, or any combination thereof.