Nanosys, Inc. Licenses Seminal Nanotechnology Patent Portfolio from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories

Palo Alto, CA - (October 22, 2002). Nanosys Incorporated announced today the signing of an exclusive field of use license agreement for a broad set of nanotechnology patents from one of the fathers of nanotechnology; Professor Paul Alivisatos at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The licensed patents cover some of the earliest work in zero and one-dimensional nanomaterials such as nanocrystals (quantum dots), nanorods, and nanotetrapods, as well as new advances in nanotechnology-enabled applications that will dramatically increase the strength and breadth of Nanosys’ pre-eminent intellectual property portfolio in nanotechnology. The Alivisatos portfolio covers fundamental applications in light emitting, detecting and photovoltaic technologies. Two of the near term applications of Alivisatos’ work are lightweight, "brilliant," computer displays and solar cells.

Dr. Stephen Empedocles, Director of Business Development at Nanosys, stated, "Dr. Alivisatos is truly one of the fathers of nanotechnology. He has been around since the beginning of the field, and his patent portfolio covers many of the most important technological aspects of this growing field. The addition of Dr. Alivisatos’ patents has really completed the fundamental foundation of our company and the entire field of nanotechnology as a whole." Nanosys announced earlier this year the signing of license agreements with Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Regents of the University of California.

Dr. Alivisatos, Scientific Founder of Nanosys and Scientific Advisory Board Member said, "These technologies will impact across many applications, from advanced photovoltaic devices to computer displays to plastic electronics. We have spent a long time developing this technology from the very beginning, and now it is ready to be commercialized. I’m really excited about the opportunity to develop this technology at Nanosys." Dr. Alivisatos added, "What’s really exciting about these materials is that they allow us to independently control all of their functional properties, such as their optical, electronic, conductive and magnetic properties, independent of their processing and physical characteristics. This allows you complete freedom to design a material with the exact characteristics you need for an application."

About Professor Paul Alivisatos

Dr. Alivisatos is a Professor of Chemistry at University of California - Berkeley with a joint appointment at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory where he is Director of the Molecular Foundry. Dr. Alivisatos has been one of the principal drivers behind the development of nanotechnology with a particular focus on zero dimensional materials such as quantum dots. Dr. Alivisatos’ academic accomplishments include winning, among others, the National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award, the Exxon ACS Solid State Chemistry Fellowship, the Coblentz Award, the Outstanding Scientific Accomplishment in Materials Chemistry (DOE), and the Outstanding Young Investigator Award (Materials Research Society). Professor Alivisatos received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at University of California - Berkeley, followed by a Post Doctoral Fellowship at AT&T Bell Labs..

About Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory located in Berkeley, California. It conducts unclassified scientific research and is managed by University of California - Berkeley. Visit the Lab website at http://www.lbl.gov.

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