U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Smart Dusts: Creating a Stealthy, Stable and Statistically Unique Taggant
NCJ Number
              244882
Journal

*Identification News* Volume: 43 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2013/January 2014 Pages: 10-11
Author(s)
          Ryan  Tomcik
Date Published

January 2014
Length
              2 pages
Annotation
              This newsletter brief summarizes an interview with Dr. Ming Su of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in which he discusses his research on covert metal nanoparticles funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
Abstract
              This newsletter brief summarizes Ryan Tomcik's, the International Association for Identification's NIJ liason, interview with Dr. Ming Su of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute concerning his NIJ-funded research on covert metal nanoparticles and the potential benefits they may provide to crime scene investigators. These covert metal nanoparticles, a class of molecular taggants, are physical or chemical markers, such as microfibers, microscopic labels and security inks, that are currently employed in anti-counterfeiting measures. The analysis of statistically unique taggants in forensic science is a fundamental idea with respect to the interpretation of trace evidence that is collected from crime scenes and, it is Dr. Su's belief, that taggant analysis could potentially become as accurate a measurement as DNA analysis. Dr. Su, a materials science and engineering Ph.D. with experience in nanotechnology and nanomedicine, has evolved his research interest into a new type of nanomaterials. Called phase change materials (PCM), these nanomaterials change their phases from solid to liquid at melting temperatures and could be assembled to form a new type of barcode system that will have extremely high capacity. Dr. Su's project, Encapsulated Phase Change Nanoparticles as Thermally-Readable Covert Taggants, is being funded under NIJ award number 2012-DN-BX-K021.
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2012-DN-BX-K021


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Publication


  
  
        
  Award
        Encapsulated phase change nanoparticles as thermally-readable covert taggants
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2014
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Crime Scene
        Crime scene investigation
        Forensic sciences
        International Association for Identification
        Investigations



  
Similar Publications
        
                      A Diagnosis of the Primary Difference between EuroForMix and STRmixTM
                  dcDegenerate Oligonucleotide Primed-PCR for Multilocus, Genome-wide Analysis From Limited Quantities of DNA
                  Application of Snyder-Dolan classification scheme to the selection of "orthogonal" columns for fast screening of illicit drugs and impurity profiling of pharmaceuticals - I. Isocratic elution
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov