US Patent 7531149 - Metal oxide nanoparticle size control

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531149.html

In order to produce predictable behavior from nanostructured materials it is often important to have well regulated distributions of sizes and/or shapes. This patent from the University of Arkansas teaches a method of achieving uniformity for metal oxide nanoparticle fabrication. Claim 1 reads:

1. A method of making nanometer-scale metal oxide particles, comprising:

a. combining a metal fatty acid salt, a fatty acid, and a hydrocarbon solvent to form an admixture thereof; and

b. heating the admixture to a temperature of at least 300° C. until the metal oxide particles are formed.