US Patent 7516610 - Nanoparticle propulsion

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7516610.html

This patent from the University of Michigan proposes a new type of propulsion system using charged nanoparticles as fuel. Claim 1 reads:

1. A propulsion system, comprising:

a grid;

a gimbal supporting the grid; and

a plurality of micron-size vias disposed in the grid, the grid establishing electrical fields to extract and accelerate a plurality of nano-particles providing propulsion system thrust.