US Patent 7276385 - Nanoparticles for circuit repair

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7276385.html

Kovio is a company focusing on the use of printing technologies to fabricate electronics with less expense. This patent uses laser irradiation of a thin film of nanoparticles to selectively form wiring patterns for circuit repair and subsequent removal of the nanoparticles that were not irradiated. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of repairing a circuit, comprising the steps of: a) depositing a thin film composition comprising nanoparticles of at least one electrically functional material on or over a region of said circuit to be repaired such that said thin film composition contacts first and second elements of said circuit; b) irradiating at least a portion of the thin film composition with a wavelength of light for a length of time and at an intensity sufficient to convert said nanoparticles to an electronically functional film, fuse said nanoparticles or bind said nanoparticles to each other; and c) locally rinsing said irradiated thin film with a developer to remove non-irradiated portions or portions adjacent to the irradiated portion of the composition.

US Patent 7270880 - Electrochromic nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7270880.html

Electrochromatic materials have the property of changing color based on an applied electrical potential and can be used in a variety of applications including displays and smart glass that can change shading properties. This patent from NTERA Ltd. presents some basic claims to the use of nanoparticles with electrochromatic compounds adsorbed on the surface. Claim 1 reads:

1. Discrete electrochromic particles comprising conducting, semiconducting or insulating nanoparticles, said nanoparticles having an average particle size of up to 80 nm and one or more electrochromic compounds adsorbed on the surface thereof.

US Patent 7253119 - Nanoparticle etching/passivating process

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7253119.html

This patent from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute teaches a fairly interesting way of manufacturing nanoparticles in solution which combines etching to reduce the size of the nanoparticles and passivation to avoid agglomeration. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of making semiconductor nanoparticles, comprising: forming semiconductor nanoparticles of a first size in an aqueous solution; and providing an etching liquid into the solution to etch the semiconductor nanoparticles of the first size to a second size smaller than the first size; wherein the solution contains a passivating element which binds to dangling bonds on a surface of the nanoparticles to passivate the surface of the nanoparticles.

US Patent 7247375 - Halogen polymer encapsulated nanoparticle

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7247375.html

Encapsulation of phosphorescent particles by polymers and inorganic materials is a used to avoid quenching of the phosphorescence in oxygen or water containing environments. This patent claims an improvement of such encapsulation for nanoparticles using halogen containing polymers. Claim 1 reads:

1. A phosphorescent particle comprising a phosphorescent material encapsulated in a halogen-containing polymer, wherein the size of the particle is from about 10 nanometers to about 10 micrometers.

US Patent 7244513 - Porous silicon powder used to make nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7244513.html

Patent claims to intermediate products used in a manufacturing process often may be preferred over claiming the process itself since claims to structure may often be easier to enforce than claims to methods. This patent from Nano Proprietary is directed toward an intermediate product used in the formation of silicon nanoparticles. Claim 1 reads:

1. A porous silicon powder comprising a plurality of silicon particles wherein only the outermost layers of said particles are porous, and wherein the outermost porous layers of said silicon particles comprise a thickness which ranges from at least about 1 angstrom to at most about 500 nanometers.

US Patent 7228094 - Nanopowder on substrate

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7228094.html

Yipes! This patent claim from Xerox is directed to a donor used in electrophotography processes but some of the claims appear quite broad.

1. A donor member comprising a substrate and having thereover a coating comprising a nano-size powder having a particle size of from about 25 to about 500 nanometers.

Although the specification of "donor member" may limit the breadth somewhat, many publications to metallic, magnetic, carbon-based, or other nanoparticle films formed on a substrate that would be in the cited range can be found by doing a quick survey of GoogleScholar prior to the priority date of this patent. See for example:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/g554625k1707l80h/

US 7224039 - Diamond nanoparticle dielectric

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7224039.html

Continuation of Moore's law (related to the exponential increase in transistor density of electronics over time) has required a search for new dielectric materials. Intel has introduced hafnium based high-K dielectric which reduce current leakage and allow for smaller insulation thicknesses. This patent from a company called International Technology goes in the other direction and proposes a low-K dielectric that are more immune to parasitic capacitance effects and which are formed using a polymer composite that includes diamond or diamond-like nanoparticles. Claim 6 reads:

6. A dielectric material suitable for use as a semiconductor interlayer dielectric, comprising an admixture of low dielectric polymer with nanoelements, wherein the nanoelements comprise one or more of the nanoelements selected from the group consisting of diamond nanoparticles, diamond nanorods, silicon carbide nanoparticles and silicon carbide nanorods, and wherein the nanoparticles have a largest dimension that is less than approximately 50 nanometers.

US Patent 7208439 - AuPt nanoparticles for fuel cells

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7208439.html

While bi-metallic AuPt have been used as a reduction agent in fuel cells, this patent from the State University of New York proposes using nanoparticulate AuPt as an alternative to provide both reduced poisoning within the fuel cell by carbon monoxide by-products and the advantage of high catalytic potential. Claim 1 reads:

1. A bifunctional fuel cell catalyst comprising highly monodisperse, core-shell nanoparticles of gold/platinum (AuPt) alloy supported upon an electrically conductive, non-metallic particulate substrate.

US Patent 7208429 - Nanoparticles for toilet tissues or paper towels

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7208429.html

This patent from Procter+Gamble teaches applying nanostructured material toward the achievement of better toilet paper. Claims 1 and 13 read:

1. A finished fibrous structure comprising a solid additive comprising a nanoparticle additive wherein the solid additive is present on a surface of the finished fibrous structure at a greater level by weight than within the finished fibrous structure and wherein the finished fibrous structure exhibits a stretch at peak load of at least about 10%.

13. A finished fibrous structure comprising a solid additive comprising a nanoparticle additive wherein the solid additive is present on a surface of the finished fibrous structure at a greater level by weight than within the finished fibrous structure and wherein the finished fibrous structure exhibits a density of less than about 0.10 g/cm^3.

US Patent 7208134 - Magnetic nanoparticles for CO2 absorption

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7208134.html

This patent from M.I.T. possesses a fairly basic claim to inorganic nanoparticles (such as iron oxide nanoparticles) which is combined with organic phases (hydrocarbons) to bind gases (such as CO2). Claim 1 reads:

1. A nanoparticle comprising an inorganic compound associated with an organic phase, wherein the organic phase is capable of reversibly solubilizing a gas.

US Patent 7205048 - Histidine coated fluorescent nanoparticle

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7205048.html

Nanoparticles are an attractive alternative to other more conventional fluorescent biomarkers which suffer from fading under intense light. However, prior fluorescent nanoparticles have had difficulty in balancing water solubility with fluorescent efficiency. This patent teaches the use of a particular aminio acid coating to optimize fluorescent efficiency, solubility, and other desirable properties of a nanoparticle biomarker. Claim 1 reads:

1. A functionalized fluorescent core/shell nanocrystal comprised of: a fluorescent core/shell nanocrystal; a coating material, said coating material being histidine-based.

US Patent 7192873 - Nanoparticles as sacrificial material

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7192873.pdf

In microfabrication it is common to use polymer or oxide thin films as sacrificial material to form spacers which are later removed to form 3-D microstructures. This patent from Samsung does the same thing on the nanoscale using nanoparticles instead of thin films as the sacrificial material to form nanoscale diodes, transistors, or other electronic devices. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of manufacturing a nano scale semiconductor, the method comprising: dispersing uniformly a plurality of nano particles on a semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating layer covering the nano particles on the semiconductor substrate; partly removing upper surfaces of the nano particles and the insulating layer; selectively removing the nano particles from the insulating layer; and partly forming doped semiconductor layers in the semiconductor substrate by doping the semiconductor substrate through spaces formed by removing the nano particles.

Free Nanomaterials Database

I recently put together a database of US patents issued over the last 25 years having at least one claim reciting a nanoparticle (or quantum dot), a nanowire (or quantum wire), or a nanotube. The database is sortable based on filing year and listed assignee (patent holder) and provides a valuation index (also sortable) for each patent in the database based on the number of claim limitations. If anyone is interested in a copy send an E-mail to

blaise_mouttet@yahoo.com

with "Nanomaterial database" in the subject and I'll send you a copy.

US Patent 7186398 - Fe/Au nanoparticle

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7186398.pdf

This patent from Purdue Research proposes a new paramagnetic nanoparticle in which the magnetic moment can be precisely controlled and which can be readily modified by attachment of selected organic molecules to their surfaces. Claim 1 reads:

1. A superparamagnetic nanoparticle comprising Fe atoms and Au atoms distributed in a solid solution with no observable segregation into Fe-rich or Au-rich phases or regions.

US Patent 7182801 - Non-magnetic nickel nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7182801.pdf

Nickel powders are useful in forming a variety of electronic circuit devices including the electrodes for multilayer ceramic capacitors. However, the powders tend to clump together based on their magnetic properties which causes difficulty in fabrication. This patent from Samsung teaches how to form nickel nanopowders that are non-magnetic to avoid such difficulties. Claim 1 reads:

1. Non-magnetic nickel powders having an hexagonal close packed (HCP) crystal structure wherein the average particle size of said non-magnetic nickel powders is in the range of 30 to 800 nm.

US Patent 7180649 - Electrochromatic nanoparticle displays

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7180649.pdf

E Ink is a company that is working on producing flexible electronic paper which can provide the attributes of electronic displays to media having a paper-like consistency. This patent uses electrochromatic (i.e. color controllable) nanoparticles for such displays. Claim 1 reads:

1. A display comprising: first and second electrodes spaced from one another, at least one of the first and second electrodes comprising a layer of an electrically conductive metal or metal oxide, and a semiconductor layer; and a plurality of electrochromic nanoparticles disposed between the first and second electrodes, each of the nanoparticles having an electron-rich state and an electron-depleted state, the two states differing in at least one optical characteristic, such that injection of charge from at least one of the first and second electrodes will cause at least some of the nanoparticles to switch between their electron-rich and electron-depleted states.

US Patent 7178747 -Nanoparticle aspect ratio modification

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7178747.pdf

While the mechanical, electrical, and optical benefits of various nanoparticles are favorable, there are still several issues restricting broad usage of nanoparticles such as nanoparticle clumping, undesired gas absorption, and variability on nanoparticle types produced. These problems necessitate post-processing of the nanoparticles and this patent from Nanoproducts Corporation teaches such post-process refining methods. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method for modifying the shape of nanomaterials comprising: providing nanomaterials of a first aspect ratio; mixing the nanomaterials with a catalyst; processing the mixture at a temperature greater than 300 K; and collecting nanomaterials with an aspect ratio different than the first aspect ratio.

US Patent 7172649 - Metal Oxide Nanoparticle Dentures

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7172649.pdf

Dentistry is seeing it's fair share or nanotechnology applications. This is the third U.S. patent within a year teaching the use of nanoparticles in a dental implement citing the advantages of high bend strength and fracture resistance. Claim 1 reads:

1. A doped leucite glass ceramic powder, comprising (a) a leucite glass ceramic powder; and (b) a nanoscale metal oxide powder with a d50 value of 1 nm to 200 nm.

US Patent 7166663 - Nanoparticle/Microparticle Composition

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7166663.pdf

Hardness and scratch resistance of materials may be improved by adding particulate matter. However, for optically transparent materials such particle additives may cause undesired haze and lack of clarity. This patent from Nanophase proposes an optimized mixture of nanoparticles and microparticles to balance the physical and optical benefits of particulate enhanced materials. Claim 1 reads:

1. A composition comprising: a matrix material; a first particulate fraction comprising an average particle size of from about 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers; and a second particulate fraction comprising an average particle size from about 0.25 microns to about 50 microns, wherein the first particulate fraction is present in an amount between about 35 to about 65 weight percent of the total added particulate fraction.

US Patent 7165553 - Nanoparticles for Cigarettes

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7165553.pdf

There is some concern about possible health issues arising from the use of nanoparticles in a variety of products. However, this patent from Philip Morris proposes the benefits of catalytic nanoparticles to reduce the level of carbon monoxide produced from cigarettes. So smokers may soon be able to stop worrying about the ill effects of carbon monoxide (but perhaps may start worrying about the ill effects of nanoparticle inhalation.) Claim 1 reads:

1. A smoking article composition comprising tobacco cut filler, cigarette paper and/or cigarette filter material further comprising a catalyst capable of converting carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide, wherein the catalyst comprises nanoscale catalyst particles dispersed within a porous aluminosilicate matrix, and wherein the nanoscale catalyst particles comprise iron oxide, and/or iron oxide hydroxide, and/or wherein the matrix further comprises magnesia, titania, yttria, ceria or mixtures thereof.