Top Ten Nanotechnology Patents of 2011

Here is a list of the U.S. nanotechnology patents issued over the past year that appear to me to be the most valuable or interesting:

#10 - US Patent 7921384 - Nanoscale FPGA for nanorobotics (Neal Soloman)

I am dubious of the enablement of most "nanorobot" related patents but they can be interesting reading even if they are nonsense. 

#9 - US Patent 8062407 - Nano-manufacture using household microwave (Northwest Missouri State University )

This patent warrants the garage inventor of the year award for developing a cheap way to synthesize silver nanoparticles.

#8 - US Patent 8057776  - Carbon nanotube manufacture from microalgae (United Arab Emirates University)

This patent represents the first teaching (to my knowledge) of using biomaterial to create carbon nanotubes. I am not sure how useful this will be but the inventor deserves an A+ for creativity.

 #7 - US Patent 7922795 - Nanoscale semiconductor membrane (University of Rochester)

This patent includes some basic claims for semiconductor membranes which may be critical to the development of hydrogen-permeable membranes for fuel cells and pressure sensors.

#6 - US Patent 8060217 - Nanowire neural interface (Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation)

Neural interfaces are an emerging technology but are limited by the damage done due to electrical signals applied to nerve cells. The teachings of this patent may contribute to a solution which can open up a whole new industry.

#5 - US Patent 8068624 - CNT thermoacoustic sound generator (Foxconn)

This is one of numerous basic patents issued this year to Hon Hai Precision (Foxconn) covering a newly discovered application of carbon nanotubes which may represent one of the most significant developments in the area of sound production in the last 100 years enabling sound without magnetic fields or vibration.

#4 - US Patent 8063448 - Memresistor FinFET (Infineon Technologies)

Two of the leading trends in semiconductor electronics are the use of multi-gate transistor structures and the use of thin film memory resistor materials for memory cells (e.g. phase change memory, ReRAM). this patent includes some basic claims combining these concepts.

#3 - US Patent 8053782 - Graphene phototransistor (IBM)

The 2010 Nobel Prize went to research in the new nanomaterial graphene and inventions based on graphene are in their infancy. This patent includes some basic claims for graphene used in photodetectors.

#2 - US Patent 7902541 - Strained nanowire FET (IBM)

Semiconductor nanowire technology is becoming more sophisticated and IBM is leading the way in manufacturing these materials into future generation high-speed transistors.

#1 - US Patent 8066831 - Nanoenergetic power generation (The Curators of the University of Missouri)

New solutions for energy production are perhaps the key applications for nanomaterials. This patent from the Gangopadhyay Research Group represents one of the most innovative techniques I have yet heard of for the use of nanomaterials in power generation for portable devices.

Top Ten Nanotechnology Patents of 2010

Here is a list of the U.S. nanotechnology patents issued over the past year that appear to me to be the most valuable or interesting:

#10 - US Patent 7657447 - Nanomaterial insurance (Hartford Fire Insurance Company)

This is one of the few (perhaps only) business method patents specifically directed to nanotechnology.

#9 - US Patent 7662288 - Nanobubble water treatment (Sharp)

As the world population and industrial production continue to increase clean water will become a bigger issue. This patent includes basic claims toward water treatment using nanobubbles.

#8 - US Patent 7799849 - Self-healing nanomaterial (Intel)

This patent includes basic claims to packaging materials with self-repair features provided by encapsulated nanoparticles.

#7 - US Patent 7767184 - Nanocrystalline diamond film (Nanotech LLC)

This patent has early priority (2003) and includes basic claims to high purity nanocrystal diamond films to provide scratch and wear resistant coatings.

#6 - US Patent 7858185 - High purity nanotube fabric (Nantero, Inc.)

This is one several basic patents from Nantero including claims to nanotube fabrics. The specific claims of this patent may be critical to integrating nanotubes with CMOS electronics.

#5 - US Patent 7675766 - Ion conductor mem-resistor (Axon Technologies Corporation)

In 2008 HP published a paper in Nature on a new nanoscale circuit element called a memristor which couples ionic and electronic effects. This patent from Axon Technologies has priority from 2000 and includes some earlier claims to ion conductor switches and memory which appears to be under development by start-ups such as Adesto Technologies and 4DS.

#4 - US Patent 7666708 - Uniform nanowire growth (Harvard)

This is one of the more basic patents from the Lieber Research Group of Harvard having priority going back to 2000 and including claims covering uniform diameter nanowires.

#3 - US Patent 7790285 - Nano-scaled graphene platelets (Nanotek Instruments, Inc.)

This patent from Nanotek Instruments includes basic claims to a new type of carbon nanomaterial with potential to outperform carbon nanotubes in energy storage technologies (e.g. batteries, fuel cells).

#2 - US Patent 7795677 - Nanowire SOI FET (IBM)

This patent from IBM represents one of the more realistic designs for nanowire-based transistors and includes some basic claims to the design.

#1 - US Patent 7683359 - Nanostructured silicon lithium battery  (Nexeon Ltd.)

Nexeon Ltd. has produced a world record capacity rechargeable battery and this is perhaps their most basic patent.