US Patent 7486434 - Nanotube electromagnetic radiation conversion

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7486434.html

Robert Crowley of Ambit Corp. was the first to recognize the potential of carbon nanotubes for optical energy conversion and has a series of continuations going back to 1997 based on the concept. This patent appears to be one of the broadest potentially covering applications in sensors, communications, and power generation. Claim 1 reads:

1. An optical antenna array system for the collection and conversion of electromagnetic radiation comprising:

a substrate for supporting an array of nanotubes thereon;

an array of nanotubes on said substrate arranged for the collection and conversion of electromagnetic radiation.