A method is described for exfoliating a microcrystal of an anthracene derivative by irradiation with short pulses of light having a wavelength of 220-420 nm. The irradiation induces a cis-trans isomerization of the anthracene derivative in a part of the microcrystal, which leads to the separation of an outer layer having a thickness of 200-600 nm. The exfoliated microcrystal may be irradiated again with pulses of light of a same or different wavelength.

A self-healing polymeric material includes a polymeric matrix material, a plurality of monomer mixture microcapsules dispersed in the polymeric matrix material, and a plurality of light generating microcapsules dispersed in the polymeric matrix material. Each monomer mixture microcapsule encapsulates a mixture of materials that includes monomers and a photoinitiator. Each light generating microcapsule encapsulates multiple reactants that undergo a chemiluminescent reaction. The chemiluminescent reaction generates a photon having a wavelength within a particular emission range that is consistent with an absorption range of the photoinitiator.

A self-healing polymeric material includes a polymeric matrix material, a plurality of monomer mixture microcapsules dispersed in the polymeric matrix material, and a plurality of light generating microcapsules dispersed in the polymeric matrix material. Each monomer mixture microcapsule encapsulates a mixture of materials that includes monomers and a photoinitiator. Each light generating microcapsule encapsulates multiple reactants that undergo a chemiluminescent reaction. The chemiluminescent reaction generates a photon having a wavelength within a particular emission range that is consistent with an absorption range of the photoinitiator.

A self-healing polymeric material includes a polymeric matrix material, a plurality of monomer mixture microcapsules dispersed in the polymeric matrix material, and a plurality of light generating microcapsules dispersed in the polymeric matrix material. Each monomer mixture microcapsule encapsulates a mixture of materials that includes monomers and a photoinitiator. Each light generating microcapsule encapsulates multiple reactants that undergo a chemiluminescent reaction. The chemiluminescent reaction generates a photon having a wavelength within a particular emission range that is consistent with an absorption range of the photoinitiator.

A self-healing polymeric material includes a polymeric matrix material, a plurality of monomer mixture microcapsules dispersed in the polymeric matrix material, and a plurality of light generating microcapsules dispersed in the polymeric matrix material. Each monomer mixture microcapsule encapsulates a mixture of materials that includes monomers and a photoinitiator. Each light generating microcapsule encapsulates multiple reactants that undergo a chemiluminescent reaction. The chemiluminescent reaction generates a photon having a wavelength within a particular emission range that is consistent with an absorption range of the photoinitiator.

A composition includes a functionalized fluorescent dye. The functionalized fluorescent dye includes an isothiocyanate-containing compound functionalized with a functional group. The functional group includes a primary amine. The functionalized fluorescent dye can be mixed with a fluid to form a tracer fluid for tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation.

A composition includes a functionalized fluorescent dye. The functionalized fluorescent dye includes an isothiocyanate-containing compound functionalized with a functional group. The functional group includes a primary amine. The functionalized fluorescent dye can be mixed with a fluid to form a tracer fluid for tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation.

A composition includes a functionalized fluorescent dye. The functionalized fluorescent dye includes an isothiocyanate-containing compound functionalized with a functional group. The functional group includes a primary amine. The functionalized fluorescent dye can be mixed with a fluid to form a tracer fluid for tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation.

A composition includes a functionalized fluorescent dye. The functionalized fluorescent dye includes an isothiocyanate-containing compound functionalized with a functional group. The functional group includes a primary amine. The functionalized fluorescent dye can be mixed with a fluid to form a tracer fluid for tracing fluid flow in a subterranean formation.

The invention relates to novel caging-group-free photoactivatable fluorescent dyes having the structural formula I:

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as well as to the corresponding photoactivated fluorescent dyes having the structural formula II:

##STR00002##

The invention further relates to the use of the photoactivatable compounds as such or after photoactivation, in particular as fluorescent tags, analytical reagents and labels in optical microscopy, imaging techniques, protein tracking, nucleic acid labeling, glycan analysis, capillary electrophoresis, flow cytometry or as a component of biosensors, or as analytical tools or reporters in microfluidic devices or nanofluidic circuitry.