NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
LETTER AGREEMENT
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.1
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>dex101.htm
<DESCRIPTION>LETTER AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
<HTML><HEAD>
<TITLE>Letter Agreement</TITLE>
</HEAD>
 <BODY BGCOLOR="WHITE">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px" ALIGN="right"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2"><B>Exhibit 10.1 </B></FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">October 15, 2004 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Joseph Cross </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">President &amp; CEO </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Nanophase Technologies Corporation </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1319 Marquette Drive </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Romeoville, IL 60446 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="100%" BORDER="0" ALIGN="center">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="2%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="96%"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Re:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Nanophase Technologies Corporation/Rohm and Haas Electronic</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:1px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"
SIZE="2">Materials CMP Inc. Cooperation Agreement, as Amended</FONT></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Dear Joe, </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">This will confirm our agreement with regard to exclusivity under our June 24, 2002
Cooperation Agreement (the &#147;Agreement&#148;) as follows: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">1.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In 2005, exclusivity will be conditioned on RHEM&#146;s purchase from Nanophase of at least [ * * * ] kilograms of Particles for applications in the Field at $[ * * * ] per kilogram
of dry weight, purchased as follows: [ * * * ]; </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">2.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">In 2006, exclusivity will be conditioned on RHEM&#146;s purchase of at least [ * * * ] kilograms of Particles for such year on a schedule to be mutually agreed upon by October 15,
2005; and </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE STYLE="BORDER-COLLAPSE:COLLAPSE" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%">
<TR>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="top" ALIGN="left"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">3.</FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">If we meet the conditions above, we will remain mutually exclusive &#150; <I>i.e., </I>Sections 2 and 3 will continue to remain in force and effect through 2006, without further
action or discussion. If RHEM does not meet any of these conditions, either party may initiate Adjustment Discussions under Section 12 of the Agreement from the date the relevant condition was not met. </FONT></TD></TR></TABLE> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">This will be deemed to be Amendment No. 2 to the Agreement and supercedes and replaces all
contrary or inconsistent provisions related to exclusivity amounts and conditions during 2005 and 2006 contained in the Agreement and Amendment No.1 thereto. All other provisions of the Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, remain in full force
and effect. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">* * * CONFIDENTIAL TREATMENT REQUESTED &#150; this confidential
portion has been omitted from this document and filed separately with the Commission. </FONT></P>

<p Style='page-break-before:always'>
<HR  SIZE="3" COLOR="#999999" WIDTH="100%" ALIGN="CENTER">

 <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Mr. Joseph Cross </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">October
15, 2004 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Page 2 </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT
FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Thanks for your cooperation and I look forward to our mutual success in the years ahead. </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Yours truly, </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="100%"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px; margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Nicholas A. Gutwein</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="66%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Nicholas A. Gutwein</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">President and CEO</FONT></P></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"> <P STYLE="margin-left:1.00em; text-indent:-1.00em"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">for&nbsp;Rohm&nbsp;and&nbsp;Haas&nbsp;Electronic&nbsp;Materials&nbsp;CMP&nbsp;Inc.</FONT></P></TD></TR>
</TABLE> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Acknowledged and agreed </FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">as of the date first listed above: </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:-6px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P> <P
STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Nanophase Technologies Corporation </FONT></P> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></P>
<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" WIDTH="40%" BORDER="0">

<TR>
<TD WIDTH="6%"></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1%"></TD>
<TD WIDTH="93%"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">By:</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"> <P STYLE="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">/s/ Joseph Cross</FONT></P><HR WIDTH="71%" SIZE="1" NOSHADE COLOR="#000000" ALIGN="left"></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD VALIGN="top"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT SIZE="1">&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD VALIGN="bottom"><FONT FACE="Times New Roman" SIZE="2">Joseph Cross, President &amp; CEO</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
</BODY></HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
