US Patent 8231770 - Nanoporous carbon actuator

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8231770.html

Carbon nanotubes have been proposed to produce actuators with a greater energy density per mass but such actuators are difficult to produce since the nanotubes are expensive and are not available in 3D shapes which limits applicability. This patent from Lawrence Livermore National Security instead teaches using a nanoporous carbon material which may be used for molding 3D actuator structures at lower cost than carbon nanotube materials. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electrochemically driveable actuator, comprising:

a nanoporous carbon aerogel composition capable of exhibiting charge-induced reversible strain when wetted by an electrolyte and a voltage is applied thereto.                             

US Patent 8038887 - Membranes for nanometer scale mass fast transport

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8038887.html

The development of membranes with nanoscale pores would be useful for chemical and biological separation or purification and simulations have shown that water molecules can be transported quickly through carbon nanotubes due to the atomic smoothness of the nanotube inner surface. This patent from Lawrence Livermore National Labs teaches a membrane containing carbon nanotube channels which may provide fast separation of gases and fluids on the nanoscale. Claim 1 reads: 

1. A membrane for enhanced fluid transport comprising:

a vertically-aligned array of carbon nanotubes, wherein the nanotubes have average pore size of about 2 nm or less,

a matrix material disposed between the carbon nanotubes and wherein the matrix material has negligible molecular permeability.

US Patent 7951247 - Nanolaminate igniters

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7951247.html

Nanocomposite materials are promising candidates for ignition materials by providing high-energy reactions without toxicity or other environmental hazard. This patent from Lawrence Livermore National Security teaches one type of nano-igniter based on a laminate structure. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composition comprising:

an energetic multilayer structure; and

an energetic booster material coated onto one end or one side of said multilayer structure, wherein said energetic booster material is a sol-gel nanostructured energetic material and comprises a binder.

US Patent 7922965 - Slip casting nanoparticle powder for transparent ceramics

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7922965.html

This patent is from Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC and teaches forming transparent ceramic components for lasers based on metal oxide nanopowder. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of making a transparent ceramic, comprising the steps of:

providing nano-ceramic powders in a processed or unprocessed form,

mixing said powders with de-ionized water, said step of mixing said powders with de-ionized water producing a slurry,

sonifying said slurry to completely wet said powder and suspend said powder in said de-ionized water,

separating very fine particles from said slurry,

molding said slurry, and

curing said slurry to produce the transparent ceramic.

US Patent 7544978 - Lipid nanowire sensor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7544978.html

This patent from Lawrence Livermore National Security teaches a new biochemical sensor nanostructure with improved signal detection efficiency. Claim 1 reads:

1. A sensor apparatus, comprising:

a nanotube or nanowire,

a lipid bilayer around said nanotube or nanowire,

a hydrophilic cushion between said nanotube or nanowire and said lipid bilayer,

wherein said hydrophilic cushion is a polymer cushion, and a sensing element connected to said lipid bilayer.

US Patent 7342311 - MEMS sensor within silicone body

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7342311.html

This patent from Lawrence Livermore National Security teaches a "peel and stick" MEMS sensor which can be attached to a spherical silicone body (such as a safety airbag for an automobile). Claim 1 reads:

1. An electronic apparatus, comprising: a spherical silicone body, and at least one electronic unit operatively connected inside said spherical silicone body, wherein said at least one electronic unit comprises a MicroElectroMechanical System (MEMS) sensor.