News

The Republic of South Africa Grants Patent No. 2010/08555 to Nanoptek Corporation

Nanoptek Corporation, Maynard, MA, January 12, 2012. Nanoptek received its first foreign patent today. Republic of South Africa Patent No. 2010/08555, “Bandgap-Shifted Semiconductor Surface and Apparatus,” contains a total of 43 claims that protect key inventions incorporated into Nanoptek’s solar hydrogen generation technology, from processes for manufacture of The Company’s proprietary stress-induced bandgap-shifted photoanodes, to the solar hydrogen generator apparatus which they drive.

Nanoptek now has 6 broad patents, of which 5 are U.S. Patents, with 8 more pending and/or applied for, including three more foreign filings. In addition, Nanoptek has license to 9 supporting patents, and a U.S. Registered Trademark.

Nanoptek President and C.E.O. John Guerra said, “We intend to be a world player in order to bring the benefits of our technology to every part of the Globe. The Republic of South Africa will be an important market for us, as well as all of Africa, which is why we filed for patent there. We’ve had considerable interest from several forward-looking parties in South Africa — the sunlight that they receive favors any solar technology, and their geography and population distribution favors, sometimes even requires, distributed technology such as ours. Our SHG300 Solar Hydrogen Generators™ efficiently and economically store sunlight chemically as hydrogen, which may then be used directly for manufacturing or for transport fueling, or converted into electricity at will and at any time to power telecomm stations or municipalities. I want to add that Nanoptek is fortunate to have co-inventors Chief Scientist Luke Thulin and Senior Principal Scientist Dr. Amol Chandekar on the team.”

Nanoptek Corporation, a privately held Delaware corporation located in Maynard, Massachusetts, is a clean-tech and renewable energy company developing bandgap-shifted photocatalytic technology based products to reduce global warming by addressing markets for carbon-free, locally produced hydrogen, and to detoxify and disinfect air and water. The Company’s website is www.nanoptek.com.

ARC International Places Order for Nanoptek SHG300 Solar Hydrogen Generators

Nanoptek Corporation, Maynard, MA, December 22, 2011. Nanoptek is pleased to announce that The Company received a purchase order today from the International Advanced Research Center for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARC International) for Nanoptek’s SHG300 Solar Hydrogen Generators. An autonomous Research and Development Center of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, ARC International is located in Balapur, Hyderabad. The units are scheduled for shipment in March of 2012 to Dr. Pramod B. Borse.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Issues Two Patents to Nanoptek Corporation

Nanoptek Corporation, Maynard, MA, August 9, 2011. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today issued two patents to Nanoptek Corporation (“Nanoptek” or “The Company”). The Company now has five U.S. Patents, including U.S. Patent No. 7,947,221 that issued in May, and nine patents pending or applied for, including four international. All are directed to Nanoptek’s core technology and business— products incorporating semiconductor photocatalysts that are nano-engineered (or “bandgap-shifted”) to work more efficiently with sunlight to produce hydrogen from water, or to detoxify and disinfect air and water.

Nanoptek President and C.E.O. John Guerra said, “The breadth and depth of The Company’s core technology are indicated by the two seemingly disparate patents issued today. U.S. Patent No. 7,992,528 directs Nanoptek’s semiconductor bandgap-shifting technology to an apparatus for hydrogen-fueled vehicles, while U.S. Patent No. 7,995,871 directs a dynamic form of our technology to an electromagnetic tuning and modulating device and process that could allow more information transfer in the increasingly crowded telecommunications bandwidth. As we continue to focus on our core business applications and begin to roll out products, these patents both enhance our already strong position in the field of nano-engineered or band-gap shifted semiconductors and, we expect, will provide licensing opportunities as well.”

Contact

John M. Guerra
President and CEO
jguerra@nanoptek.com

Nanoptek to Exhibit at Clean Technology Conference and Expo.

Maynard, MA. June 2, 2011. Nanoptek Corporation will be at Booth 712 at the Clean Technology Conference and Expo at the Hynes Auditorium in Boston Massachusetts June 14 and 15, 2011. Follow this link to see the floor plan. We look forward to seeing you there!

UPDATE: Thanks to all who came by to visit our booth.

Third U.S. Patent for Nanoptek Corporation

Maynard, MA. May 31, 2011. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent No. 7,947,221 to Nanoptek Corporation for an apparatus utilizing stress-induced bandgap shifted photocatalysts for disinfection and detoxification of air, water, and surfaces. The patent issued May 24, 2011. In addition to the three issued patents, Nanoptek has eleven U.S. and international patents pending and/or applied for, and nine licensed patents.

Nanoptek Corporation Launches New Website

Maynard, MA. February 11, 2011. Nanoptek Corporation launches their new website tonight. While maintaining some style elements of the old site for continuity, the new site is entirely rebuilt and designed for streamlined browsing and faster access to all pages. All information is completely updated and reflects the up-to-the-minute status of the Company as it transitions from Pre-Production to Commercialization this year. John Guerra, President and CEO, said “We had many compliments on the previous site, and it had served us well since 2002; several improvements to its functionality and appearance in early 2008 kept it going until now. But with the internet and browsers changing so much, as well as changes in our Company, it was time for a completely new site. We are very happy with how site designer MVG Designs captured the spirit of Nanoptek for presentation to the online community; the crisp look and smooth, logical functionality make this site a winner.”

Nanoptek Corporation Announces it is Taking Pre-Orders for SHG300

Nanoptek Corp. Article in Cryogas International Journal Feb. 10, 2011

Follow this link to the article “Efficient Hybrid Solar Generator” by John M. Guerra. It was originally published in the February 2011 issue of Cryogas International (Vol. 49, No. 2) and this PDF is provided with their permission.

Nanoptek Board Member and Investor David Gelbaum Wins Prestigious Award

Maynard, MA. November 20, 2010. David Gelbaum, Nanoptek Corp. Board Member, Chairman of The Quercus Trust, and CEO of Entech Solar, was presented with the coveted 2010 Civilian Service Award by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, for Mr. Gelbaum’s generous contributions and support to veterans and their families. The IAVA Civilian Service Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated unwavering support for America’s newest generation of heroes. IAVA is the nation’s first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan group representing the troops and veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nanoptek Corporation Files International Patent Application

First Installation of Solar Hydrogen Generators at Nanoptek Corporation

Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition Presents Award to Nanoptek President

Maynard, MA. December, 2008. Brad Bradshaw, President of the Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition (MHC), presented an Outstanding Achievement award to John Guerra, President and CEO of Nanoptek Corp., for his contributions toward making the hydrogen economy a reality.

Nanoptek Corporation Awarded Second U.S. Patent

Maynard, MA. December, 2009. Nanoptek Corp. has received their second patent. U.S. Patent 7,628,928 is for the method of disinfection and detoxification of air, water, and surfaces with stress-induced bandgap shifted photocatalysts.

Nanoptek Corporation Awarded U.S. Patent

Maynard, MA, March 2009- Nanoptek Corporation has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,485,799 “Stress-Induced Bandgap-Shifted Semiconductor Photoelectrolytic, Photocatalytic, Photovoltaic Surface and Method for Making Same” for a more efficient way of making hydrogen from water and sunlight using Nanoptek’s improved photocatalyst and photoelectrolytic cell.

Nanoptek’s patented technology for producing hydrogen, unlike the way most hydrogen is produced, is completely carbon-free and renewable. Nanoptek envisions that this innovation will promote the use of hydrogen for producing “green” electricity and even powering fuel cell vehicles, in addition to providing hydrogen for use as an important chemical feedstock for manufacturing, especially in remote off-grid and off-pipeline regions in the U.S and around the world.

Titania (titanium dioxide), when illuminated with ultraviolet light, is a photocatalyst in that it reduces the voltage required to dissociate water into hydrogen and oxygen. However, the scarcity of ultraviolet light in sunlight here on earth severely limits titania’s efficiency. Nanoptek’s innovation allows titania to absorb and be activated by more of the light in the solar spectrum, not just ultraviolet, in a process known as “bandgap shifting.”

Nanoptek’s scientists achieve this bandgap shift by growing titania films onto nanostructures that are essentially very small arches. Conceptually, these arches force each successive layer of titania molecules to stretch in order to “line up” with the previous layer during growth of the film. As the titania is stretched, electrons in the titania molecules are less tightly bound, and so are more easily excited by light with lower energy than ultraviolet light, in this case some of the more abundant visible light. The excited electrons drive a process known as photoelectrolysis, the end result of which is dissociation of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases.

“In the nearly seven years since this invention, we have continuously built on and vigorously moved the technology toward commercialization,” Nanoptek president and CEO John M. Guerra said. “This patent protection of Nanoptek’s key technology further strengthens our commercialization position going forward.”

The Company has seven additional patents pending, all claiming the benefit of this issued patent.

Nanoptek Corporation (www.nanoptek.com), a privately held Delaware C corporation founded in 2002, is developing technology and products for producing hydrogen from water and sunlight.

Nanoptek Corp. Leases 6,050 Sq. Ft. at Mill Pond Square in Maynard, MA.

Released by Nanoptek Corp., Maynard, MA, June 20, 2008. Nanoptek Corporation, a company developing technology that produces hydrogen from water and sunlight, announced today that it is moving to Mill Pond Square, 63 Great Road, in Maynard Massachusetts. Mill Pond Square has both the charms of an old mill building as well as completely modern updates, including large column-less floor expanses. It is situated on the beautiful Mill Pond, and being at the intersection of Routes 117 and 62, it is easily located and accessible to visitors, and provides ample adjacent parking.

John Guerra, President and CEO, said “The new facility is a perfect fit for this next stage in our corporate growth and identity, as it provides the space and functionality our growing team requires to meet our ambitious technical and business goals over the next few years.”

The lease with 63 Great Road Partners LLC, a Massachusetts company in Concord, was brokered by The Stubblebine Company and O’Brien Commercial. “63 Great Road Partners LLC, our landlord, has been very accommodating and welcoming. And we are looking forward to meeting our neighbors from the exciting R&D companies already in the building,” said Guerra.

The new location has a large open floor plan that will accommodate Nanoptek’s expanding R&D labs, as well as ample room for product development and pilot manufacturing. The facility, which faces south for best solar exposure, includes a unique testing bay for pre-production prototypes of Nanoptek’s solar hydrogen generator, as well as a roof deck for long term testing of prototypes.

“We especially like the fact that we are still in Maynard, and only a few minutes walking distance from the amenities and our friends in downtown businesses,” added Guerra.

The move is expected to be complete in early July, 2008.

Nanoptek Corporation Secures $4.7M in Series A Round

MAYNARD, MA–(Marketwire – January 16, 2008). Nanoptek Corporation, a renewable energy company that produces hydrogen directly from water using sunlight and its proprietary photocatalyst, today announced it has closed a $4.7M Series A equity financing round, led by The Quercus Trust, a California fund with multiple investments in clean technology and renewable energy. Ardour Capital Investments, LLC served as financial advisor in the transaction. Series A investors also included the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC) and private investors. With this investment, Nanoptek expects to complete the development of its field-deployable Solar Hydrogen Generator, develop pilot manufacturing capability, and install the first pilot plant for producing carbon-free hydrogen.

Most hydrogen today is produced by steam methane reformation (SMR) of natural gas feedstock. In addition to consuming natural gas, the SMR process releases carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Some hydrogen is produced by electrolysis of water, but this too results in carbon dioxide production unless the electricity used is from wind or solar.

Nanoptek’s Solar Hydrogen Generator (SHG) produces hydrogen directly from water using only sunlight and its proprietary photocatalyst in a process known as photoelectrochemical (PEC) water dissociation, or photolysis. No carbon dioxide is produced. Nanoptek has improved the PEC process by developing a titania photocatalyst that absorbs significantly more sunlight than normal titania. Nanoptek’s patent pending technology achieves this with nano-structures that stress the titania. Developed over 5 years with funding from NASA, DOE Office of Basic Energy Sciences, and a SEED loan from MTC through the Renewable Energy Trust totaling over $1.3M, this “bandgap engineering” results in more efficient and lower-cost production of hydrogen from sunlight.

Nanoptek expects to sell the carbon-free locally produced hydrogen to customers with high value industrial applications, and plans to also make it available for applications including transportation, backup power, “green” electricity for municipalities, and off-grid off-pipe power generation.

About Nanoptek Corporation

Nanoptek Corporation, a Delaware corporation with headquarters in Maynard, Massachusetts, is a renewable energy company developing technology to reduce global warming by addressing markets for carbon-free, low-cost, locally produced hydrogen. The Company’s website is www.nanoptek.com.

Contact

John M. Guerra

President and CEO

(978) 461-0472

Department of Energy Renews Award to Nanoptek Corp. for FY2008.

(Released by Nanoptek Corp., June 18, 2007, Maynard, MA.). Nanoptek Corp. learned today that the Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Dept. of Energy, has renewed funding for FY 2008. Renewal is based on acceptance by the D.O.E. of Nanoptek’s annual technical progress and reporting.

Nanoptek Reincorporates in Delaware

(Released by Nanoptek Corp., April 19, 2007. Maynard, MA.). Nanoptek Corp., formerly incorporated in Massachusetts on Sept. 9, 2002, has reincorporated as a Delaware corporation in preparation for a Series A fundraising.

Department of Energy Announces Award to Nanoptek Corp.

(Released by Nanoptek Corp., May 25, 2005, Maynard, MA.). Nanoptek Corporation announced today that the Department of Energy (DOE) has chosen the Massachusetts corporation to perform basic research on its proprietary nano-structured titania thin film photocatalysts. The research funding will begin in FY2005, with a duration of three years.

The award is one of 70 research and development projects announced today by Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman. The awards, totaling $64 million, are aimed at making hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and refueling stations available, practical and affordable for American consumers by 2020. The projects that were selected focus on fundamental science and enable revolutionary breakthroughs in hydrogen production, and storage in addition to new fuel cell technologies. Participants in the projects include more than 50 research organizations in 25 states.

“Since President Bush first laid out his vision for a hydrogen economy, we’ve witnessed incredible innovation and tremendous advancement,” Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said. “We hope that through our ingenuity, investment and effort, hydrogen vehicles will someday be as commonplace as the cars we drive today.”

John M. Guerra, President and CEO of Nanoptek, said, “This award is very important to Nanoptek, as it will enable new research as well as accelerate our ongoing research to improve the efficiency of our unique photocatalyst, thereby helping us to achieve our product and business goals. We are also pleased that Nanoptek was the only industry company selected for an award; all the other 69 awards went to prestigious government research labs and universities.”

The photocatalyst that Nanoptek is developing is used to split water into hydrogen fuel and oxygen, using only sunlight. By coating a thin film of titania semiconductor onto a plastic nano-structured surface, the film is changed at the nano-level such that it absorbs more of the visible sunlight than it otherwise would, for very good efficiency in converting sunlight into hydrogen.

Nanoptek has developed a manufacturing process that is compatible with today’s vast CD/DVD manufacturing infrastructure, so that the photocatalyst can be made abundantly and cheaply. The solar hydrogen generators that will use Nanoptek’s photocatalyst will supply hydrogen fuel on-site for use in home heating, internal combustion vehicles, and fuel cell vehicles. On-site production reduces or eliminates transport and storage issues. When Nanoptek’s solar hydrogen generators are coupled with fuel cells from other companies, clean electrical energy is produced, with the only byproduct being clean water.

Nanoptek Corp. is a privately-held Massachusetts C corporation currently funded with a NASA Phase II SBIR award, in addition to SEED funding from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust. Nanoptek is located at 8 Clock Tower Place, Suite 120, Maynard, MA. 01754.

Clean Energy Companies Get Seed Funding From State

Follow the link above to read the news release.

Nanoptek Corp. Moves to Clock Tower Place in Maynard, Massachusetts

Nanoptek Corporation moved into 8 Clock Tower Place, Suite 120, in Maynard, Massachusetts on March 1, 2004 (http://www.clocktowerplace.com/). The larger and newly refurbished facility provides Nanoptek the space necessary for completing the Phase II SBIR contract with NASA. Clock Tower Place has a rich manufacturing and R&D history dating back to 1846, with Building 8 constructed in 1870. It has been the home to Raytheon and Digital Equipment Corporation, where the first minicomputers were developed and manufactured, and now is home to Monster.com as well as over 100 other companies in 1.1 million square feet. Maynard is a richly diverse town with numerous pubs (the Sit ‘n Bull features live music by many well-known artists, for example) and restaurants, shops, Commonwealth Ballet, and a movie theater, with easy access to major highways (Rt. 2 and Rt. 495), and proximity to Logan and Worcester Airports. A shuttle runs regularly from Clock Tower Place to the West Acton Train Station, providing public transportation to Cambridge and Boston. In addition to its own rich manufacturing history, Maynard is proximal to historic Concord and Lexington, and is 30 minutes from Mt. Wachusett for excellent skiing.

NASA Awards Phase II SBIR Contract to Nanoptek Corporation.

(Released by Nanoptek Corp., Nov. 28, 2003, Concord, MA.). N.A.S.A. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) has awarded Nanoptek Corporation a Phase II S.B.I.R. (Small Business Innovative Research) contract to continue development of their clean hydrogen fuel generation technology, the company announced today. Only companies who successfully completed an earlier Phase I contract were eligible to compete for the Phase II award. The value of the contract is $600,000 and the project is expected to require two years.

Nanoptek’s hydrogen generation technology evolves hydrogen gas from water using only sunlight and their proprietary photolytic electrodes. Their unique technology promises higher efficiency, longer lifetime, and lower cost than competing technologies for hydrogen generation. Further, Nanoptek’s “point-of-use” hydrogen generation reduces the problems of hydrogen transport and storage.

The goal is to produce clean, abundant, and low cost hydrogen fuel to supply hydrogen cars using internal combustion engines. Major automotive companies have shown near-production-ready versions of such hydrogen cars, with some planning production models as early as 2005.

Water purification is another important application, where Nanoptek’s technology could evolve hydrogen from contaminated water to fuel others’ commercially available fuel cells. Fuel cells create electricity by recombining hydrogen with oxygen, producing clean water as a by-product. Such systems could be located anywhere in the world where there is sunlight and water, for production of both clean electricity and clean water.

John Guerra, President and C.E.O. of Nanoptek, said, “We’re extremely excited and proud that N.A.S.A. has chosen us as one of only 145 companies nation-wide for a Phase II award. This is a strong indicator of the need for and strengths of our technology, for both space and ground-based applications. N.A.S.A.’s support will help us to play a significant, and hopefully even enabling, role in making the Hydrogen Economy happen sooner rather than later.”

Nanoptek Corporation (www.nanoptek.com) is a privately held technology company located in Concord MA. Inquiries can be directed to JGuerra”at”nanoptek.com.

Nanoptek Booth at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2003

Nanoptek Corporation displayed their Digital Photon Tunneling Microscope™ as well as their Trident™ hand-held backscattered photon tunneling microscope at the Microscopy and Microanalysis show in San Antonio, Texas, this August. Although attendance was reportedly not as high as in recent years, the traffic at the Nanoptek booth was robust. Demonstrations of the PTM were pre-arranged with attendee’s samples, and were scheduled hourly over the week-long exhibit. Despite the over 100° weather, San Antonio provided a beautiful, historic, and friendly venue for the show.

Nanoptek Corporation and Scientific Systems Sales Corp. Announce Exclusive Distribution Agreement for North America

(February, 2003) Nanoptek Corporation and Scientific Systems Sales Corp. (SSSC) announced today that they have signed a contract designating SSSC as the exclusive distributor for Nanoptek’s photon tunneling products in North America.

John Guerra, President and CEO of Nanoptek, said, “I’m excited to have SSSC as our exclusive North American distributor. Having purchased products from them in the past, I know firsthand their commitment and dedication to the customer, integrity, and technical excellence. I wanted a distributor for our products that shared Nanoptek’s values and dedication to the customer. SSSC’s product lines are known for their quality, value, and cutting-edge technology, and I am proud to have our PTM along side them.”

Arthur Posner, President of SSSC, said “We were convinced, after seeing the PTM for the first time, that this represents a significant breakthrough in surface characterization.”

SSSC’s principals include Matec Instruments (Scanning Acoustic Microscope), Princeton Gamma-Tech (Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis and Imaging Systems), Quesant (Atomic Force Microscopes), SensIR (FT-IR Microscopes), and Witec Instruments Corp. (Scanning Near Field Optical Microscope (SNOM) and Confocal Raman Microscopes). With the addition of Nanoptek’s photon tunneling microscope, customer’s have a one-stop shop at SSSC for their surface analysis needs.

Nanoptek Corporation is a privately held Massachusetts corporation developing applications of their nano and near-field optical technology for the microscopy and energy markets.

Scientific Systems Sales Corp. is a privately held Massachusetts corporation with over 40 years of dedication to serving and advancing the microscopy and materials characterization community. SSSC takes pride in professionalism and commitment to total customer satisfaction. Their main office is located in Great Barrington, MA and they can be reached at 413-528-8030 or at sssc”at”bcn.net.

NASA Awards Phase 1 SBIR to Nanoptek Corporation

(December, 2002) NANOPTEK Corporation is one of only 270 companies selected for a 2002 Phase I contract under NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program. NASA received 2,283 SBIR and STTR proposals submitted by small, high technology businesses from 48 states and the District of Columbia.

NANOPTEK Corporation’s winning proposal, “Stress-induced bandgap-shifted titania photocatalyst for hydrogen generation,” involves NANOPTEKs’ proprietary (patent pending) nano-engineered titania optics in a novel approach for hydrogen generation from light and water.

John M. Guerra, president and chief executive of Nanoptek Corporation, said “We are very proud and excited to have won this contract from NASA. The SBIR funding will allow us to pursue a technology that we believe will be important to the future growth of our business, but more importantly will ultimately be one of the solutions to the global need for clean energy from hydrogen, as well as an enabling technology for extended manned spaceflight.”

SBIR goals are to stimulate technical innovation, increase the use of small business in meeting federal research and development needs, and increase private sector commercialization of results of federally funded research.

The nine NASA field centers reviewed proposals for technical merit and feasibility and relevance to NASA research and technology requirements.

Companies that successfully complete Phase I activities are eligible to compete for Phase II selection the following year. The Phase II award allows for a two-year, fixed-price contract in the amount up to $600,000.

The NASA SBIR/STTR Program Management Office is located at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD, with executive oversight by NASA’s Office of Aerospace Technology, NASA Headquarters, Washington DC.

Nanoptek Corporation is located in Concord, MA.

Avon Products Purchases Digital PTM

(November, 2002) NANOPTEK Corporation is pleased to announce that it has delivered a Digital Photon Tunneling Microscope upgrade to Avon Products Corporation in Suffern, NY.

John M. Guerra, President and CEO of NANOPTEK, said “With our sale of a PTM to CMC Magnetics last month, this delivery to Avon illustrates the breadth of application of our PTM. Dr. Gopi Menon, a respected researcher in dermatology, purchased the PTM based on results obtained with the older analog version. The new Digital PTM offers superior calibration and metrology, with a full array of image processing functions.”

CMC Magnetics Purchases Digital PTM

(October, 2002) NANOPTEK Corporation is pleased to announce that it has delivered a Digital Photon Tunneling Microscope upgrade to CMC Magnetics Corporation in Taiwan, R.O.C.

John M. Guerra, President and CEO of NANOPTEK, said “CMC Magnetics Corporation is one of the largest manufacturers of CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW optical media in the world. Their quality, innovation, and manufacturing strengths are renowned. We are honored that they chose our PTM.”

Dr. Donyau Chang, Vice President of Engineering at CMC Magnetics, was impressed with a demonstration of the PTM that he was given. After further evaluation of samples from CMC with the PTM, the order was placed.

CMC Magnetics Corporation is one of the world’s largest optical disc manufacturers. CMC’s DVD+RW media has recently been certified by Philips, making CMC the first among the Taiwanese manufacturers.

CMC will use the PTM to inspect masters, stampers, substrates, and coatings.

Nanoptek Corporation Secures License to Polaroid Corp. Patents

(October, 2002) Nanoptek Corporation announces that it has secured license to 9 patents belonging to Polaroid Corp. Together, the patents comprise 248 broad and deep claims to nano-optic and near-field optical inventions, including the photon tunneling microscope, flexible near-field transducer probes, the Trident dark-field photon tunneling microscope, near-field lithography, phase-shifted evanescent field microscope, diffractive near-field optics, and near-field flying height metrology. The scope of the license includes international patents.

John M. Guerra, President and CEO of Nanoptek Corporation, said, “These important patents, together with our proprietary know-how and patents pending, provide Nanoptek Corporation with a strong technology platform and product pipeline to fuel our growth well into the next decade and beyond.”

Nanoptek Incorporates

(September, 2002) Nanoptek announces that it has incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts as Nanoptek Corporation, Concord, MA, on Sept. 9, 2002.

Near-field Optics Pioneer Founds NANOPTEK to Commercialize
Nano and Near-field Optical Technology and Instrumentation

(June, 2002) John M. Guerra, P.E., the inventor of photon tunneling microscopy (PTM) and other near-field optical technology, has founded NANOPTEK in Concord, Massachusetts (USA), to develop and commercialize nano- and near-field optical technology and instrumentation. Guerra, who is CEO and President, is joined by Dr. Dmitri Vezenov, also an innovator in near-field and nano-optic technology. Dr. Vezenov is Vice President of Technology. Guerra and Vezenov first joined forces while at Polaroid Corporation, and continued their work in near-field optical data storage and microscopy as the “East Coast” near-field lab of Calimetrics, Inc., an R&D technology startup in California.

NANOPTEK’s “out of the box” product family includes an all-new Digital PTM, the Trident PTM for rougher industrial surfaces, NanOptic nano-optic substrate engineering samples, and NFNow! rigorous near-field optical modeling software.

NANOPTEK also provides PTM and modeling services, and consulting in near-field and nano-optics for such near-field applications as lithography, optical disc mastering, and bio-assay.