US Patent 7922795 - Nanoscale semiconductor membrane

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7922795.html

This patent is from the University of Rochester and includes some broad claims toward ultrathin membranes useful to a variety of devices including electron microscopes, fuel cells, pressure sensors, and DNA sequencing. Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanoscale membrane exposed on opposite sides thereof and having an average thickness of less than about 100 nm, a lateral length to thickness aspect ratio that is more than 10,000 to 1, a surface roughness of less than about 1 nm, and wherein the membrane is formed of a semiconductor material selected from the group of silicon, germanium, silicon or germanium alloys, p-doped silicon or germanium, and n-doped silicon or germanium.

US Patent 7576353 - Ballistic deflection transistor

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7576353.html

This patent from researchers at the University of Rochester teaches a new type of transistor based on ballistic transport enabling ultra-high speed (THz) and low power logic circuit designs. An article from the University of Rochester explains that:

"Since there are no conventional junctions, the operating voltage is very low, making it suitable for low power applications. The projected power usage is expected to be 10% of conventional designs. Unlike conventional designs, this design will improve with reduced scale fabrication processes by using even less power and becoming more accurate with a better signal to noise ratio. The ultra-high speed capability will enable new approaches to telecommunications and computing."

1. A ballistic deflection transistor comprising:

a substrate;

a quantum well formed in the substrate;

a plurality of paths in the substrate to define a hub and a plurality of ports extending from the hub;

a deflective structure formed in the hub; and

a plurality of gates formed in the substrate to be adjacent to one of the ports to apply a capacitive or inductive field to electrons entering at said one of the ports.

US Patent 7547347 - Synthesis of nanomaterials in ionic liquids

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7547347.html

Compared with conventional solvents ionic solvents are non-volatile, non-flammable, and thermally stable. This patent from the University of Rochester teaches using and recycling these solvents to achieve a more eco-friendly nanoparticle fabrication method. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of synthesizing nanoparticles formed of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, alloys, and intermetallics, comprising:

combining at least one stabilizing agent, at least one precursor and an ionic liquid to form a reaction mixture;

heating the reaction mixture to a first predetermined temperature to form the nanoparticles;

heating the reaction mixture to a second predetermined temperature to cause the nanoparticles to separate from the ionic liquid;

collecting the nanoparticles from the reaction mixture; and

reusing the separated ionic liquid.