US Patent 7665985 - CNT ignition mixture

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7665985.html

Spark igniters are most commonly used for ignition systems used in many combustion processes. However, it is often desirable to have multiple ignition points throughout the combustion volume to improve efficiency and reduce engine size. This patent from ERC Incorporated teaches a system using a dispersion of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)as well as other nanostructured materials to generate multiple ignition sites. Claim 1 reads:

1. An apparatus comprising:

a. a combustion chamber in communication with an intake line;

b. a first injector coupled to said intake line, for porting an injectable fuel from a fuel supply into said combustion chamber;

c. a second injector coupled to said intake line, for porting an injectable ignition mixture from an ignition mixture supply into said combustion chamber

said ignition mixture comprising numerous light-ignitable ignition agents and said fuel, said ignition agents comprising at least SWCNTs, such that said ignition agents are spatially distributed to multiple points within said combustion chamber along with said fuel in the presence of oxygen; and

d. a light source communicating diffused light radiation into said combustion chamber, and wherein said light radiation initiates combustion of said ignition agents at said distributed multiple points within said combustion chamber and thereby igniting said fuel within said chamber.