In the realm of nanotechnology, the term "provisional" often refers to a provisional patent application. This is a legal document filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that establishes an early filing date but does not mature into an issued patent unless the applicant files a regular non-provisional patent application within one year. It is commonly used by researchers and innovators in nanotechnology to secure intellectual property rights while they continue to refine their inventions.
