US Patent 8226015 - Orthogonal charge-based spectral coding with quantum dots

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8226015.html

This patent based on U.S. Naval research teaches a method of preparing nanocrystals for applications as biological tags so as to distinguish between concurrent cellular events. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of preparing optical barcodes, comprising:

combining a plurality of populations of quantum dots with quantities of a modulator of photoluminescence to produce a plurality of optical barcodes,

wherein the plurality of optical barcodes have at least two distinguishable colors arising from varying quantities of a modulator of photoluminescence bound to the populations of quantum dots,

wherein the modulator of photoluminescence acts to quench or enhance photoluminescence.

US Patent 8019555 - Virus as a scaffold for hierarchical self-assembly

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8019555.html

This patent from U.S. Naval Research includes some broad claims for building blocks of biomolecular nanotechnology which may be useful in bio-detection or memory applications. Claim 1 reads:

1. A particle comprising:

a virus having a surface;

a plurality of inorganic nanoparticles bound to the surface; and

one or more molecular wires connecting the nanoparticles.

US Patent 7879166 - SWCNTs with hydrazoic acid

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7879166.html

This patent from the U.S. Naval Research Labs teaches a way to modify single wall carbon nanotubes used in the preparation of explosives in which the nanotubes protect from accidental initiation. Claim 1 reads:

1. An activated single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) having a tubular single wall and a plurality of transition metal azides inside the tubular single wall.

US Patent 7807127 - Nitrogen-based functionalization of CNTs

http://ip.com/patent/US7807127

This patent is based on research supported by the U.S. Navy and includes claims to nitrogen functional groups of carbon nanotubes having application to energy storage and high strength materials. Claim 1 reads:

1. A carbon nanotube, comprising

a structure of CNT-Zn, wherein said CNT is directly attached to said Z via a covalent bond;

said n is from 1 to 1,000;

said CNT is a carbon nanotube with at least two ends and at least one side wall; and

said Z is a nitrogen based functional group, and wherein an amount of acidic sites on said CNT is in a range of approximately 9.6-11%.

US Patent 7745330 - Attaching CNTs to a substrate

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7745330.html

This patent from U.S. Naval Research teaches ways to modify carbon nanotubes in order to integrate them with silicon substrates and perform electrical experiments. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of connecting a carbon nanotube to a substrate, comprising:

exposing the carbon nanotube to a vapor from a substance of fluoride salt deposited on the substrate.

US Patent 7678707 - Fabrication of CNT diode

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7678707.html

This patent is based on U.S. Naval research and teaches using barium fluoride to establish a diode junction between metallic nanotubes and a semiconductor substrate. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of producing a nanoShockley diode, the method comprising:

locally modifying electrical conductive properties of a semiconducting carbon nanotube so the properties are similar to electrical conductive properties of graphite,

wherein the locally modifying electrical conductive properties comprises exposing the carbon nanotube to a vapor from a family II salt.

US Patent 7597717 - Multi-tip rotating scanning probe head

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7597717.html

Since the 1980's a variety of different types of scanning probe microscopy devices have been developed to accomplish a variety of different tasks in nanometrology and nanolithography. This patent based on research supported by the U.S. Navy teaches a compact scanning probe head capable of switching between different probe types. Claim 1 reads:

1. A scanning probe microscopy head comprising:

a circular base portion;

more than one cantilevers coupled to the perimeter of the base portion, the cantilevers positioned perpendicular to the base portion, the cantilevers comprising a substrate portion and a tip attachment portion, the tip attachment portion configured to linearly extend from and linearly retract within the substrate portion; and

at least one tip coupled to each of the tip attachment portions, wherein at least two of the cantilevers and associated tips are configured to perform a different scanning probe microscopy technique.

US Patent 7459324 - Photonic metal nanoparticle

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7459324.html

Photonics is analogous to electronics except instead of using circuits for transporting electrons the circuits of photonic devices transport particles of light. This patent from U.S. Naval Research Labs teaches an optical amplification device based on metal nanoparticles which seem to be a type of optical transistor. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method, comprising:

providing a substrate having a semiconductor layer over an insulator layer;

operatively coupling said substrate to a photonic bandgap structure having at least one period, wherein said photonic bandgap structure is adapted to receive and output light along a predetermined path; and

operatively coupling said photonic bandgap structure and said substrate to a metal nanoparticle structure comprising at least three metal nanoparticles having spherical shapes of different radii, wherein said at least three metal nanoparticles are adapted to receive and amplify light rays and output amplified light.