nanoREV.

The Chinese Carbon Nanotube Connection

While much of the original research and development of carbon nanotube technology originated from the U.S. at IBM and Rice University and in Japan at NEC, China has recently become an important player in developing CNT manufacturing techniques and device applications. This article in the Nanotechnology Law & Business journal details China’s development as a nanotechnology superpower. One of the most important players to watch regarding carbon nanotubes from China is Foxconn which under collaborative agreements with Tsinghua University has been accumulating a very strong carbon nanotube patent portfolio consisting of dozens of patents directed to a variety of carbon nanotube applications including field emission displays, batteries, lighting, thermal interfaces, and optical elements. Some of the key patents in this group include:

U.S. Patent 7,045,108- A basic patent to a method of manufacturing carbon nanotube yarn.

U.S. Patent 7,054,064- A basic patent to a method of making an optical polarizer from carbon nanotubes.

U.S. Patent 7,060,390- A basic patent to using multiwall carbon nanotubes in a lithium ion battery.

U.S. Patent 7,064,474- A basic patent to a tapered carbon nanotube array field emission device.

U.S. Patent 7,086,451- A basic patent to carbon nanotubes used in a heat sink.