US Patent 8004175 - Light emitting material including sodium and metal nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8004175.html

This patent from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries teaches a way to improve the brightness of nanoparticle-based electroluminescense by using a sodium base material. Claim 1 reads:

1. A light-emitting material comprising:

a light-emitting base material; and

metallic nanoparticles added thereto,

wherein the light-emitting base material is sodium, the metallic nanoparticles are uniformly dispersed in the light-emitting base material, and the metallic nanoparticles are selected from the group consisting of titanium ultrafine particles, silver ultrafine particles, and stainless-steel ultrafine particles.

US Patent 7326368 - Toxicity reduction of liquid metal using nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7326368.html

This patent from Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute discloses the use of nanoparticles to reduce reactivity and enhance flow resistance of liquid metals used in coolants for nuclear reactors. Claims 1 and 5 reads:

1. A method of reducing reactivity or toxicity in a liquid metal heat transfer medium consisting of the liquid metal itself by dispersing nano-particles selected from the group consisting of metals, alloys and metallic compounds in the liquid metal.

5. A method of enhancing flow resistance in a liquid metal heat transfer medium consisting of the liquid metal itself by dispersing nano-particles selected from the group consisting of metals, alloys and metallic compounds in the liquid metal.