US Patent 7754054 - Microwave induced functionalization of SWCNTs

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7754054.html

Functionalization is an important step to sorting carbon nanotubes or to form chemical sensors using nanotubes. This patent from NJIT teaches that the speed of nanotube functionalization may be enhanced by application of microwaves. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for rapidly generating a soluble, functionalized nanomaterial comprising:

providing a substantially non-soluble nanomaterial and at least one functionalizing reactant; and

subjecting the nanomaterial and the at least one functionalizing reactant to microwave conditions;

wherein after the nanomaterial and the at least one functionalizing reactant are subjected to the microwave conditions, the nanomaterial is: (i) functionalized, and (ii) substantially soluble in a solvent.

US Patent 7645327 - Fractal structured nanofilter

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7645327.html

This patent is from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and teaches a way to use nanoparticles to create an improved high-efficiency particulate air filter. Claim 1 reads:

1. A filter system comprising:

a filter media that includes agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles in an amount sufficient to effect a desired level of filtration, wherein the agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles define a hierarchical fractal structure such that a plurality of agglomerates or granules of nanoparticles are bonded together to form at least one higher order agglomerate or granule.