US Patent 7887720 - Polymer-nanocrystal composites for optoelectronics

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7887720.html

 This patent from the University of Pennsylvania and Louisiana Tech teaches quantum dot photodetectors having an external quantum efficiency greater than 1 for electric fields of about 7×10⁵ V/cm. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of increasing the external quantum efficiency of an optoelectronic device comprising a semiconductor polymer characterized as having a bandgap in the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, the method comprising:

combining nanocrystals that comprise a Group IV-VI compound with the semiconductor polymer, wherein the nanocrystals have a bandgap in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and the weight ratio of semiconductor polymer to nanocrystals is in the range of from more than about 95:5 to about 1000:1.

US Patent 7842162 - Nanocoating for enhanced strength paper

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7842162.html

This patent is from Louisiana Tech University foundation and teaches ways of improving electrostatic self-assembly of polymeric films using nanoparticles resulting in enhanced strength paper. Claim 1 reads:

A method for making paper with enhanced strength, comprising:

(a) forming a pulp of lignocellulose fibers;

(b) nanocoating said pulp of lignocellulose fibers by alternatively adsorbing onto the fibers multiple consecutively-applied layers of oppositely-charged nanoparticles and polymers, thereby making a modified pulp of multi-layer nanocoated lignocellulose fibers;

(c) draining the modified pulp to form one or more sheets of multi-layer nanocoated lignocellulose fibers;

(d) drying said formed one or more sheets of multi-layer nanocoated lignocellulose fibers; and

(e) processing the dried nanocoated sheet or sheets to make a finished paper having enhanced strength and surface properties.