Next, we identified leading organizations in CNT research by considering both the total volume of publications and average number of citations per publication, the latter parameter being a rough representation of the influence exerted by the institution in this field. These institutions are fairly well distributed geographically, with representation from the United States, Singapore (SGP), the United Kingdom, China, Japan, and South Korea (Figure ) -though 60% of the leading 15 organizations originate from USA. Standford University was identified as having the highest average number of citations per publications, with examples of highly cited publications including the use of CNTs in chemical sensors, field emitters, and FETs. Other important research organizations identified using this method include the University of Pennsylvania (with highly cited papers on topics including CNT-containing nanocomposites and CNT solubilization in water ), and Northwestern University (with highly cited papers on sorting CNTs 39 and aminofunctionalized CNTs 40 ). Our analysis indicates that the top commercial assignees for CNT-related patents include companies involved in the electronics, chemical, battery, and automotive industries (Figure ). Patents from the leading commercial assignees discuss an array of diverse subjects, distributed across a wide range of applications. For example, recently published patent applications assigned to LG Chem, the leading patent assignee, include a reactor to synthesize CNTs that uses a nozzle to feed reactant which generates a spiral flow, 41 a mixed metal/inorganic/CNT catalyst for CO2 electrochemical reduction, 42 and a composite Si/CNT anode for lithium secondary batteries. Recently published patent applications assigned to Foxconn Technology Group (also known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), the top electronics manufacturer in terms of assigned CNT patents, include a Si/CNT lithium battery anode, an electrically modulated light source based on aligned CNT films, and a CNT-based transistor structure. Geographical distribution of commercial patent assignees indicates a sizeable contribution by China (40% of the total), Japan, South Korea, and the US. Countries with smaller degrees of contribution include Germany, Taiwan, France, United Kingdom, India and Russia (Figure ).