US Patent 7639524 - Dougle gate CNT memory

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7639524.html

In order to continue transistor scaling in the next decade there are several approaches to using multi-gate transistors which can suppress leakage current and require less power for nanoscale circuit designs. This patent from Samsung teaches a double gate transistor using a nanotube channel which provides multi-bit nonvolatile data storage. Claim 1 reads:

1. A memory device comprising:

a channel formed of at least one carbon nanotube;

a source and a drain arranged at respective ends of the channel, the source and drain contacting terminal ends of the carbon nanotube; a first storage node formed under the channel;

a second storage node formed on the channel;

a first gate electrode formed under the first storage node; and

a second gate electrode formed on the second storage node, wherein the memory device is configured to write and erase using Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.

US Patent 7639342 - Ferroelectric nanocomposite

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7639342.html

This patent from Samsung teaches a ferroelectric nanomaterial used in LCDs to improve response speed and prevent afterimage problems. Claim 1 reads:

1. A ferroelectric composite comprising:

a core including a ferroelectric material; and

a skin layer including a carbon structure comprising carbon atoms.

US Patent 7638790 - RF nanoswitch

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7638790.html

Carbon nanotubes have been proposed for RF switches in the past but suffer from a significant contact resistance producing signal loss. This patent from Samsung teaches an alternative nanoswitch configuration designed to minimize the on resistance. Claim 1 reads:

1. A radio frequency (RF) nanoswitch comprising:

a first electrode unit connected to one terminal of a driving power supply;

a second electrode connected to the other terminal of the driving power supply; and

a dielectric material fixed to a nanotube, the dielectric material selectively coming into contact with at least one of the first electrode unit and the second electrode, depending on whether or not power is applied from the driving power supply, wherein the dielectric material is configured to allow a signal to transfer between the second electrode and the first electrode unit, via the nanotube, when the dielectric material is in contact with one of the first electrode unit and the second electrode.

US Patent 7638383 - CNT growth using faceted catalysts

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7638383.html

This patent from Intel teaches a method to control the size and growth direction of carbon nanotubes by using a faceted Ge dot as a catalyst material during CVD. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method comprising:

forming a self-assembled catalytic dot having a plurality of facets on a substrate for a microelectronic device;

growing a carbon nanotube on one of the facets of the dot to extend therefrom, wherein the dot is doped to have a growth promoting layer on the facet on which the nanotube is grown and is doped to have a growth inhibiting layer on the others of the plurality of facets.

US Patent 7638252 - Electrophotographic printing of nanowire electronics

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7638252.html

Inkjet and silkscreen printing techniques have been adapted over the past several years to the deposition of nanoparticles for electronics. This patent from HP teaches an alternative nanoelectronic printing method using electrophotography. Claim 15 reads:

15. A method of forming an electrical device, comprising the step of:

electrophotographically printing a particulate material on a device substrate, said particulate material forming at least a portion of the electrical device, and having an aspect ratio of at least about 10:1, wherein the step of electrophotographically printing, comprises the steps of:

a) forming a first electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor drum;

b) contacting the first electrostatic latent image with the particulate material such that at least a portion of the particulate material electrostatically adheres to the electrostatic latent image to form a first patterned particulate layer; and

c) transferring the first patterned particulate layer to the device substrate.

US Patent 7638169 - Directed CNT growth

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7638169.html

This patent from Intel teaches using deposited platinum patterns to guide the growth of carbon nanotubes and shape electrical interconnects or other CNT structures. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method comprising:

forming a carbon nanotube inhibitor pattern on a substrate surface, wherein the carbon nanotube inhibitor pattern includes an opening that exposes a region of the substrate surface;

forming a catalyst seed pattern over the substrate surface, wherein at least a portion of the catalyst seed pattern is on a portion of the exposed region; and

growing a carbon nanotube from the catalyst seed pattern and on the exposed region of the substrate surface,

wherein the carbon nanotube inhibitor pattern directs the growth of the carbon nanotube,

wherein the carbon nanotube inhibitor pattern comprises platinum.

US Patent 7638137 - Contact lens including nanoparticle drug delivery system

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7638137.html

Eye drops have previously been used for drug delivery for diseases related to the eye but produce poor penetration through the cornea. This patent from the University of Florida instead teaches a nanoencapsulation system for applying medication using a contact lens. Claim 1 reads:

1. A drug delivery system comprising a contact lens having dispersed therein as nanoparticles having a particle size less than about 50 nm, an ophthalmic drug nanoencapsulated in a material from which said ophthalmic drug is capable of diffusion into and migration through said contact lens and into the post-lens tear film when said contact lens is placed on the eye, said nanoparticles being dispersed within said contact lens in an amount such that said lens remains substantially optically transparent.

US Patent 7638036 - Redox potential mediated CNT biosensing

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7638036.html

This patent from DuPont teaches a carbon nanotube biosensor which eliminates the need for analyte immobilization. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanosensor for detecting the presence of an analyte said nanosensor comprising:

at least two electrodes connected by an electrically conducting path comprised of one or more carbon nanotubes,

wherein at least one of said carbon nanotubes is semiconducting, and

wherein the carbon nanotube is in contact with an effector solution having a redox potential; and

wherein said nanosensor is capable of detecting the presence of said analyte with said analyte neither directly bound on said carbon nanotube nor in close proximity to said carbon nanotube.

US Patent 7637960 - Nanothin AFM cantilever

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7637960.html

The spring constant of a micromechanical cantilever is in proportion to the cube of it's thickness. This patent from the University of Houston teaches a method of manufacturing ultrathin silicon cantilevers having a low spring constant to inspect soft specimens such as biomolecules. Claim 1 reads:

1. An AFM scanning probe comprising:

a) a cantilever; and

b) a tip integrally formed on the cantilever, wherein the tip extends in a substantially perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis of the cantilever, and wherein the tip consists essentially of silicon, wherein the thickness of the cantilever is in the range of from about 100 to about 1000 nanometers.

US Patent 7635856 - Vertical CNT FET with nitride block spacer

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7635856.html

At this point there are a wide variety of proposals for field effect transistors formed with carbon nanotube channels from companies including Micron Technology, Infineon, and Samsung. This latest variation is from IBM and includes the feature of nitride spacer material for a cylindrical gate nanotube FET. Claim 1 reads:

1. A carbon-nanotube field effect transistor semiconductor device comprising:

a vertical carbon-nanotube wrapped in a dielectric material;

a source formed at a first end of the carbon-nanotube;

a drain formed at a second end of the carbon-nanotube;

a nitride block structure comprising a first nitride layer and a second nitride layer disposed above the first nitride layer, wherein the nitride block structure is disposed at side portions of the carbon-nanotube; and

a gate metal pillar wrapping the dielectric material and separating the first and second nitride layers.

US Patent 7635728 - Flame retardant polymer nanocomposites

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7635728.html

This patent is from Huntsman Advanced Materials Americas and is based on the finding that flame retardancy of polymers can be enhanced by including nanoclay particle filler. Claim 1 reads:

1. A process for the manufacture of a cured article which comprises admixing at least one expandable particulate material which expands on the application of heat with at least one particulate nano-filler and at least one curable monomer, oligomer and/or polymer to form a mixture and subsequently curing the mixture.

US Patent 7635600 - Photovoltaics with nanowire array electrode

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7635600.html

One of the well-recognized advantages of nanostructures is the high surface area to volume ratio which can increase efficiencies by providing larger contact areas. This invention from Sharp applies this advantage toward the construction of pn junction thin film solar cells. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for forming a photovoltaic (PV) structure with a conductive nanowire array electrode, the method comprising:

forming a bottom electrode with conductive nanowires;

forming a first semiconductor layer of a first dopant type overlying the nanowires;

forming a second semiconductor layer of a second dopant type, opposite of the first dopant type, overlying the first semiconductor layer; and,

forming a top electrode overlying the second semiconductor layer.

US Patent 7635518 - Dendritic magnetic nanostructures

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7635518.html

Magnetic nanostructures have potential uses in high density data storage and high resolution sensors. This patent from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette teaches a method to form such nanostructures with a reduction in aggregation. Claim 1 reads:

1. A magnetic nanostructure comprised of an assembly of magnetic nanorods held together in a dendritic pattern by dipole interaction, wherein each nanorod is comprised of a chain of ferrite nanoparticles, wherein each ferrite nanoparticle is comprised of nickel ferrite, which ferrite nanoparticles are held together by magnetic forces.

US Patent 7635461 - Composite combustion nanocatalyst

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7635461.html

This patent is from the University of Utah and teaches an ultrafast fuel combustion material based on metallic nanoparticles useful to jet propulsion systems. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composite combustion catalyst particle, comprising:

a) a metal core including a combustible metal;

b) a metal oxide coating at least partially surrounding the metal core; and

c) a catalyst coating at least partially surrounding the metal oxide coating, wherein the composite combustion catalyst particle has a diameter from about 10 nm to about 500 nm.

US Patent 7634162 - CNT de-magnification lens for nanolithography

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7634162.html

This patent from Boston College suggests manufacturing methods to produce nano-optics which extend the resolution of optical lithography. Claim 1 reads:

1. A de-magnifying lens for use in a standard photolithography system comprising:

a film having a top surface, a bottom surface and a plurality of cylindrical channels containing a dielectric material; and

an array of carbon nanotubes penetrating and converging through the film through the plurality of cylindrical channels, wherein an image on the top surface of the film is converted into a de-magnified image on the bottom surface of the film by the carbon nanotubes, wherein each carbon nanotube connects a light-receiving pixel on the top surface of the film with a light-emitting pixel on the bottom surface of the film, and wherein the light-receiving pixels on the top surface of the film are indirectly mapped to the light-emitting pixels on the bottom surface of the film by scrambled wiring through a nano-coaxial transmission line.

US Patent 7633715 - Magnetic recording head with CNT field emitter heating

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7633715.html

Heat-assisted magnetic recording is a technology for providing high density data storage using phenomena in which thermal energy assists in switching magnetic domains. This patent from Pioneer Corporation teaches a variation of this type of recording system in which the thermal energy source uses carbon nanotubes which form an electron beam having minimum fluctuation. Claim 1 reads:

1. A magnetic head for use in a magnetic recording apparatus of magnetically recording information in a state of heating and elevating the temperature of a recording portion of a recording medium by emitting electrons to the recording medium, the magnetic head comprising:

a recording magnetic pole opposed to the recording medium and having a recording magnetic pole surface for supplying a magnetic flux to the recording medium; and

an electron emission source formed to the recording magnetic pole, wherein the electron emission source includes: a concave portion having an opening having a width and formed to the recording magnetic pole having length and open to the recording magnetic pole surface;
and

a bundle of a plurality of carbon nanotubes having length extending from the bottom to the opening of the concave portion, wherein the length of the carbon nanotubes is less than the length of the recording magnetic pole, and wherein said width of said opening is less than a recording track width.

US Patent 7633098 - High density addressing architecture

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7633098.html

This patent from HP teaches methodology to fabricate an electronic addressing architecture using nanoimprint lithography and requiring fewer transistors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A system comprising:

an array of conductive structures having a pitch from about one to about ninety nanometers; and

a multiplexing/demultiplexing architecture having address lines and address field-effect transistors (FETs), the address lines in electrical communication with the conductive structures through the address FETs.

US Patent 7633080 - Nanofabrication via DNA functionalization

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7633080.html

This patent from Intel teaches one method to overcome the limitations of conventional lithography by using DNA in patterning nanomaterials. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nano-structure device comprising:

an array of functionalized nano-building blocks comprising:

an array of columns of functionalized nano-building blocks coupled together, wherein each of the columns of the nano-structure device are positioned in the same pattern and relative location as each electrode of an array of individually addressable electrodes positioned on an assembly platform used to form the nano-structure device.

US Patent 7632762 - Semiconductor nanotube device fabrication

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7632762.html

Since at least 2001 the use of high current has been used as in a method of burning off "metallic" carbon nanotubes and leaving semiconductor carbon nanotubes. This patent from Foster-Miller teaches a similar method in which a ramped voltage is used to manufacture semiconductor nanotube devices. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of forming a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of:

providing a substrate comprising two electrodes wherein the two electrodes are connected to a power supply;

providing a solvent comprising a plurality of semiconducting carbon nanotubes and a plurality of metallic carbon nanotubes;

submersing the substrate in the solvent wherein the plurality of semiconducting carbon nanotubes and plurality of metallic carbon nanotubes form a carbon nanotube bundle disposed between the two electrodes; and

ramping a bias voltage across the two electrodes wherein the ramping of the bias voltage removes the plurality of metallic carbon nanotubes in an amount sufficient to form the semiconducting device.

US Patent 7632569 - Fullerene nanotube array

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7632569.html

The late Richard Smalley was a pioneer in developing manufacturing methods for single-walled carbon nanotubes. Many of the nanotube patents emerging from Smalley's group at Rice University have priority going back to the 1990's and were limited in scope to single walled carbon nanotubes. In more recent years several continuation patents have issued extending the scope to "fullerene nanotubes" which may encompass double-walled and multi-walled nanotubes as well. This patent with priority going back to 1997 appears basic to arrays of nanotubes formed on a substrate which is relevant to application such as field emission displays. Claim 1 reads:

1. A macroscopic array comprising

(i) at least about 1000000 fullerene nanotubes, wherein (a) all of the fullerene nanotubes in the macroscopic array are in generally parallel orientation, and (b) all of the fullerene nanotubes in the macroscopic array have a substantially similar length, and

(ii) a substrate attached to one end of said array and oriented substantially perpendicularly to the nanotubes in said array.

US Patent 7632563 - Nanocomposites for aircraft windows

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7632563.html

This patent from PPG Industries Ohio teaches a polyurethane nanocomposite providing both high impact resistance and transparency to improve materials used in the construction of fighter aircraft. Claim 1 reads:

1. A transparent composite article having a maximum haze value less than 10% comprising:

(a) a polyurethane matrix and incorporated within the matrix

(b) nanofibers having a diameter of 50 to 5000 nanometers, the nanofibers being a crosslinked (meth)acrylic polymer containing silane groups that have reacted with moisture.

US Patent 7632482 - Nanopumping using a nanotube

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7632482.html

This patent is based on research supported by the US Dept. of Energy and teaches providing a nanotube of a particular length range to optimize pumping of fluid through the nanotube stimulated at a particular frequency. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for nano-pumping, comprising the following steps:

providing one or more media;

providing one or more carbon nanotubes, the one or more nanotubes having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of the one or more nanotubes is in contact with the one or more media; and

creating surface waves on the carbon nanotubes, wherein at least a portion of the media is pumped through the nanotube, wherein the one or more nanotubes have a defined length L, the surface wave has a defined frequency λ and wherein the ratio between L/λ is between about 2 and 32.

US Patent 7632422 - Cut nanotube heat transport medium

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7632422.html

Thermal conductive fluids may be formed by adding metallic particles to a liquid. This patent from Honda Motor and GSI Creos teaches that using obliquely or axially cut carbon nanotubes as the particles can improve the thermal conduction of such fluids. Claim 1 reads:

1. A heat transport medium, comprising:

a base liquid;

carbon nanotubes; and

a dispersant, wherein said carbon nanotubes are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a obliquely cut carbon nanotube having a oblique cut surface, said obliquely cut carbon nanotube having been obtained by cutting a cylindrical carbon nanotube obliquely and having surface functional groups formed on said oblique cut surface, and

(ii) a axially cut carbon nanotube having an axial cut surface, said axially cut carbon nanotube having been obtained by cutting a cylindrical carbon nanotube axially and having surface functional groups formed on said axial cut surface.

US Patent 7630771 - Implantable microtransponder

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7630771.html

A variety of implantable medical devices exist to treat neurological disorders but the requirements of external communication and biocompatibility can limit the effectiveness and lifespan of such devices. This patent from MicroTransponder Inc. teaches a wireless neurotransmitter which may help solve these problems. Claim 1 reads:

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a body member comprising a biocompatible material;

a wireless transponder enclosed by the body member; and

grooves extending along the body member, wherein the grooves contain at least one electrode adapted to electrically interface the body member with the cellular matter growing along the body member.

US Patent 7630227 - Optical storage molecular memory

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7630227.html

This patent teaches a nanoelectronic version of RAM using optoelectronic molecular materials which may facilitate integration with optical communication networks. Claim 1 reads:

1. A memory device, comprising:

an array of memory cells disposed in rows and columns and constructed over a substrate, each memory cell comprising a first signal electrode, a second signal electrode, and a nano-layer disposed in the intersecting region between the first signal electrode and the second signal electrode, each memory cell comprising optical storage molecules;

a plurality of word lines each connecting the first signal electrodes of a row of memory cells; and

a plurality of bit lines each connecting the second signal electrodes of a column of memory cells.

US Patent 7630040 - LCD with CNT orientation films

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7630040.html

Liquid crystal displays typically require alignment layers to orient the electro-optic molecules used to generate the pixels of the display. This patent from Hon Hai Precision teaches a way to use carbon nanotube films for such alignment which may provide simplification in manufacturing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A liquid crystal display, comprising:

a first base plate having an inner surface;

a second base plate having an inner surface and being opposite to the first base plate;

a liquid crystal layer located between the first base plate and the second base plate and being adjacent to the inner surfaces; and

two alignment films respectively positioned on the inner surfaces of the first base plate and the second base plate, wherein each alignment film is a film of oriented carbon nanotubes that are not perpendicular to the surface of the respective base plate.

US Patent 7629994 - Quantum dot motion capture

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7629994.html

Image capture technology is becoming more commonly used in computer graphic animation in the last several years. This patent from Sony teaches using quantum dots having sizes tuned to different wavelengths as markers in order to map the movement of more actors and objects during image capture. Claim 1 reads:

1. A quantum nanodot processing system, comprising:

at least one image capture camera configured to capture scenes including actors and/or objects in a visible band; and

at least one marker capture camera configured to capture motions of the actors and/or objects applied with at least one quantum nanodot (QD) marker,

wherein a first marker and a second marker of said at least one QD marker are excited with an excitation signal of a third wavelength but the first marker is tuned to emit a narrowband IR signal of a first wavelength and the second marker is tuned to emit a narrowband IR signal of a second wavelength, and the first wavelength and the second wavelength are longer than the third wavelength of the excitation signal,

wherein a first marker capture camera of said at least one marker capture camera is tuned to capture the narrowband IR signal of the first wavelength emitted by the first marker, and

wherein a second marker capture camera of said at least one marker capture camera is tuned to capture the narrowband IR emitting signal of the second wavelength emitted by the second marker.

US Patent 7629694 - Mem-resistor crosswire circuit interface

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7629694.html

There is an increasing interest in reconfigurable logic and other circuit architectures to achieve a higher flexibility in computing. This patent teaches mem-resistor thin films having programmable resistance characteristics used to interconnect arrays of crosswire grids for electronic devices such as memory arrays, computational devices, and pattern recognition systems. Claim 1 reads:

1. A system comprising:

a first crosswire array including first input wiring and first output wiring;

a second crosswire array including second input wiring and second output wiring, wherein the first crosswire array and second crosswire array are provided on or above the same side of a first substrate; and

a second substrate opposing the first substrate and including interconnection tips and circuit elements used to electrically connect the first crosswire array and the second crosswire array,

wherein at least one of the first crosswire array and second crosswire array include a thin film with a programmable resistance.

US Patent 7629639 - Nanocrystal floating gate transistor with nanotube channel

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7629639.html

One of the difficulties in scaling MOS transistors is the inadvertent creation of weak tunnel junctions in the gate oxide which generate current leakage. In order to avoid this problem this patent from Intel uses discrete metallic nanocrystals that reduces the impact of leakage in addition to a carbon nanotube channel which may facilitate reduction in electron scattering so as to increase the channel mobility. Claim 1 reads:

1. A transistor comprising:

a nanotube channel formed on an oxide;

a first dielectric formed on the nanotube channel; and

a plurality of metal nanocrystals formed on the first dielectric adjacent to the nanotube channel,

wherein the plurality of metal nanocrystals form an array of discrete floating gates.

US Patent 7629604 - Nanoemitter field emission switch

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7629604.html

While vacuum tubes have been replaced by transistors in most computer applications since the 1950's, high power devices still require some field emission switching devices. This patent is from Schlumberger Technology Corporation and teaches one variation of carbon nanotube field emitter switch. Claim 15 reads:

15. An apparatus comprising:

a support structure providing a support surface; and

a nano-switch mounted on the support surface, the nano-switch comprising:

a first electrode providing a surface angled with respect to the support surface,

a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode,

nano-emitters provided on one or more of the first and second electrodes, and

a dielectric material between the first and second electrodes configured to break down upon application of a voltage between the first and second electrodes to provide a current flow path through the dielectric.

US Patent 7628972 - Shaping nanostructures with ion flux

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7628972.html

Focused ion beam processing is a common technique used to shape materials on the nanoscale. This patent from Eloret Corporation teaches a method of bending or aligning carbon nanotubes using a focused ion beam. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for molding a nanostructure into a desired configuration comprising: applying an ion flux from an ion source to a nanostructure, wherein the direction of said ion flux with respect to said nanostructure causes said nanostructure to bend in the direction of said ion source.

However, one prior art patent which appears to have been overlooked is US Patent 6,248,674 from HP which also teaches alignment of nanowires on a substrate using ionic flux.

US Patent 7628959 - Nanowire hydrogen gas sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7628959.html

This patent from the University of California has some early priority (2001) and includes some basic claims to using metallic nanowire arrays as a hydrogen sensor. Claim 1 reads:

1. A hydrogen gas sensor comprising:

a first circuit exhibiting an increase in conductivity when exposed to hydrogen gas,

wherein the first circuit comprises an array of nanowires,

wherein a plurality of nanowires in the array are electrically discontinuous in the absence of hydrogen gas,

first and second electrical contacts coupled to the first circuit,

a power source coupled to the first and second electrical contacts, and

a second circuit coupled to the first circuit for sensing current across the first circuit.

US Patent 7628041 - Carbon fiber alignment via glass drawing

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7628041.html

This patent from Alcatel-Lucent applies the technology used to manufacture fiber optic cable toward the formation of long strands of aligned carbon nanotubes. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for assembling carbon particles into at least one aligned carbon fiber, the method comprising the step of drawing glass containing said carbon particles so as to form at least one carbon fiber from said carbon particles.

US Patent 7626190 - Mem-resistor memory with nanowire transistor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7626190.html

This patent from Infineon Technologies teaches another variation of memory resistor electronics which uses nanowire transistors with resistive switching material. Claim 1 reads:

1. A memory device, comprising:

a transistor comprising at least one nanowire or nanotube or nanofibre and a transistor gate region, the nanowire or nanotube or nanofibre being self-aligned with respect to the transistor gate region;

wherein the memory device is a resistively switching memory device; and

wherein the nanowire or nanotube or nanofibre directly contacts a switching active material of the resistively switching memory device.

US Patent 7625766 - Step wall CNT growth

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7625766.html

CVD fabrication of carbon nanotubes on a substrate most often includes the growth of vertically oriented nanotubes from a catalytic particle. This patent from Micron Technology teaches an alternative method based on side wall growth which generates horizontally oriented carbon nanotubes and which may make alignment of CNT devices easier. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of forming a carbon nanotube, comprising:

forming a step wall over a substrate;

providing catalytic material of different composition than the step wall proximate the step wall; and

growing a carbon nanotube from the catalytic material along and in contact with the step wall of different composition from the catalytic material and to be elongated generally parallel to the substrate.

US Patent 7625702 - Helical wrapping of CNTs by genomic DNA

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7625702.html

DNA wrapping of carbon nanotubes has previously been used to facilitate sorting and dispersion of the nanotubes. However, early methods have been limited by the requirement for repeated base sequences in the DNA. This patent from IBM teaches a DNA wrapping method which avoids this problem. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method, comprising:

helically wrapping single-stranded lambda DNA segments around a single-wall carbon nanotube to form single-stranded DNA segment/single-wall carbon nanotube complex, each single-stranded DNA segment of said single-stranded DNA segments having a length of between about 3,000 and about 50,000 bases.

US Patent 7625545 - Manufacture of CNT tape by arc discharge

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7625545.html

This patent is from JPE Engineering Corp. and teaches a method of creating a high purity carbon nanotube tape using the motion of a cylindrical electrode in an arc discharge process. Claim 1 reads:

1. A process for producing carbon nanotubes by arc discharge, wherein a path of the arc discharge is formed along the stream of an inert gas or inert gas-containing mixed gas supplied from an anode to a cathode comprising a carbon material, and simultaneously, the anode and the cathode are relatively moved so as to move a cathode spot of an arc on the cathode.

US Patent 7625530 - Manufacture of isotope-doped CNTs

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7625530.html

Isotope labeling is a technique used to study nanoscale growth mechanisms. This patent from Tsinghua University and Hon Hai Precision teaches an arc discharge method using isotope doping to study the growth process. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for manufacturing isotope doped carbon nanotubes, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carbon rod connected with an anode of an electrical source, the carbon rod comprising at least two kinds of carbon isotope segments arranged alternately along a longitudinal direction of the carbon rod;

(b) providing a pure carbon rod connected with a cathode of the electrical source, the pure carbon rod positioned corresponding to the carbon rod; and

(c) producing an arc discharge between the carbon rod and the pure carbon rod, the carbon isotope segments of the carbon rod being consumed in sequence to form the isotope doped carbon nanotubes.

US Patent 7625502 - Manufacture of nanoscale scintillation material

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7625502.html

Scintillation materials are important to radiation detectors used in medical imaging. This patent from GE teaches how nanoscale scintilators can enhance the resolution and luminosity of such imaging devices. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for making nano-scale particles of a halide based scintillation material, comprising:

combining a first solution comprising one or more metal salts and a second solution comprising one or more halide precursors to form nano-scale particles of a halide based scintillation material, wherein both the first solution and the second solution comprise ionic liquids; and

isolating the nano-scale particles from the combined first and second solutions.

US Patent 7625475 - Microfluidic nanotube pump

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7625475.html

This patent from Lockheed Martin teaches that single walled carbon nanotubes can enhance the electrofluidic flow control found in microfluidic devices. Claim 1 reads:

1. A microfluidic pump comprising:

a housing comprising a first open end and a second open end;

a single walled nanotube, including two or more electric contacts, positioned within said housing, wherein the single walled nanotube is not part of a membrane;

an ionic fluid or alcohol contained within said housing; and

a voltage source directly connected to said two or more electric contacts on said single walled nanotube;

wherein upon application of a voltage to said two or more electric contacts on said single walled nanotube, a current flows through said single walled nanotube, thereby inducing a uni-directional, non-osmotic flow of said ionic fluid or alcohol in and around said nanotube and causing said ionic fluid to enter said housing via said first open end and exit said housing via said second open end.