182 new nanotechnology related U.S Patent Applications registered in the first week of 2010. A search of the U.S. Patent Office reveals there are 49,680 pending nanotechnology related applications, up from 49,498 on December 31, 2009.
102 new nanotechnology patents were granted on January 5th, 2010, bringing the total number of U.S. Patents that reference “nano” or “nanotubes” to 24,543. (click to enlarge)
Below is a sampling of ten patent applications among the 182 new filings for the week of January 1-7, 2010.
Toshiba (Minato-ku, JP) reveals conductive inorganic silicon nanoparticles for improved fuel cell electrodes in U.S. Patent Application 20100003566. The proton-conductive inorganic oxide preferably has solid super-strong acidity. It is found that, if SiO2 particles are used to synthesize the inorganic oxide, particle growth of the oxide can be inhibited to improve the proton-conductivity, and thus a proton-conductive inorganic oxide having high proton-conductivity can be manufactured
Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC (Kansas City, MO) discloses magnetic graphite nanoplatelets in U.S. Patent Application 20100003530. The graphite nanocomposites composed of polymer matrices with nanoparticle reinforcements may be used in the manufacturing of a wide range of products such as automobile components, electronic devices, and food packaging films
Cambridge Enterprise Limited (Cambridge, GB) divulges Nanomaterial Polymer Compositions and Uses Thereof in U.S. Patent Application 20100003528. The Nanomaterial Polymer Compositions are useful for optical and sensing devices including noise suppression, passive Q-switching, mode-locking, waveform shaping, optical switching, optical signal regeneration, phase conjugation or filter devices, dispersion compensation, wavelength conversion, a soliton stabilization, microcavity applications, interferometers; optical, magneto-optical or electro-optical modulation; and biochemical sensors and photodetectors. The Nanomaterial Polymer Compositions are also useful in soft lithography processes.
Carbon Design Innovations, Inc. (Burlingame, CA) in U.S. Patent Application 20100003500 unveils carbon nanotube probes for atomic force microscopy (AFM) and process for manufacturing AFM CNT tipped probes.
LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC (Los Alamos, NM) developed highly active, methanol tolerant cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the most important considerations in achieving high efficiency direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). U.S. Patent Application 20100003569 discloses chalcogen catalysts for polymer electrolyte fuel cells.
In U.S. Patent Application 20100004588, Baxter International (Deerfield, IL) details nanoclay sorbents for dialysis. Dialysis is enhanced by using nanoclay sorbents to better absorb body wastes in a flow-through system. Nanoclay sorbents, using montmorillonite, bentonite, and other clays, absorb significantly more ammonium, phosphate, and creatinine, and the like, than conventional sorbents. The clays may be used in wearable systems, such as a wearable peritoneal dialysis system, in which the dialysis fluid is circulated through a filter with nanoclay sorbents. Waste products are absorbed by the nanoclays and the dialysis fluid is recycled to the patient's peritoneum.
University of California scientists disclose methods of fabricating nanostructures and nanowires and devices in U.S. Patent Application 20100003516. The nanowire could comprise different materials when viewed longitudinally, such as would be the case with alternating or periodic segments of different materials or multi-segmented nanowires where at least two of the segments comprise different materials. We refer to this configuration as a longitudinal heterostructure nanowire (LOHN). An example would be a LOHN where adjacent segments have different chemical compositions such as Si and SiGe.
In U.S. Patent Application 20100002362 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC. (Glenview, IL) reveals a double layer capacitor using polymer electrolyte in multilayer construction. The first and second electrode layers are comprised of nanocarbon graphite fibers.
Energy Materials Corporation (Livermore,CA) in U.S Patent Application 20100003204 claims a new class of nanoparticle hybrid sunscreens with ideal sunscreen properties. The chemical composition comprises spherical particles between 200 nm and 10 microns in diameter prepared by an emulsion polymerization of tetraalkoxysilanes or organotrialkoxysilanes or organobridged trialkoxysilanes with a dye monomer bearing two or more alkoxysilyl groups attached to the bridging chromophore. The resulting spheres absorb ultraviolet light.
Ajjer LLC (Tucson, AZ) discloses Metal coatings, conductive nanoparticles and applications of the same in U.S Patent 20100002282. The manufacturing process results in metal coated nanoparticles and metal nanoparticles with corrosion resistance that can be used to form electrical connectors and/or transparent conductors. Further these conductors and connectors may be printed. This allows electronic circuits and devices to be formed on a variety of substrates at a low cost.
