Sec Form 4 Filing - Cureton Kevin @ NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES Corp - 2021-12-28

FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person Cureton Kevin 2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES Corp [ NANX] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner X __ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) Chief Operating Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 1319 MARQUETTE DRIVE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (MM/DD/YY) 12/28/2021 (Street) ROMEOVILLE, IL60446 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed (MM/DD/YY) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) __ X __ Form filed by One Reporting Person _____ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip)

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned 1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 50,821 D

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned ( e.g. , puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities) 1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (MM/DD/YY) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (MM/DD/YY) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YY) 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares Common Stock (right to purchase) $ 0.52 02/13/2015( 1 ) 02/13/2024 Common Stock 25,000 25,000( 2 ) D Common Stock (right to purchase) $ 0.44 02/18/2016( 1 ) 02/18/2025 Common Stock 50,000 50,000 D Common Stock (right to purchase) $ 0.42 02/23/2017( 1 ) 02/23/2026 Common Stock 43,500 43,500 D Common Stock (right to purchase) $ 0.68 02/21/2018( 1 ) 02/21/2027 Common Stock 50,000 50,000 D Common Stock (right to purchase) $ 0.82 05/23/2019( 1 ) 05/23/2028 Common Stock 80,000 80,000 D Common Stock (right to purchase) $ 0.51 05/22/2020( 1 ) 05/22/2029 Common Stock 16,500 16,500 D Common Stock (right to purchase) $ 0.45 06/18/2021( 1 ) 06/18/2027 Common Stock 90,000 90,000 D Common Stock (right to purchase) $ 4.17 12/28/2021 A 90,000 12/28/2022 12/28/2028 Common Stock 90,000 $ 4.17 90,000 D

Reporting Owners Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships Director 10% Owner Officer Other Cureton Kevin 1319 MARQUETTE DRIVE ROMEOVILLE, IL60446 Chief Operating Officer Signatures /s/ Jess Jankowski under UPA for Kevin Cureton 12/30/2021 Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

( 1 )Subject to certain restrictions, beginning on this date, options vest in three equal annual installments. ( 2 )Following the recently reported exercise of 12,393 shares (11/24/21), and the 2nd exercise of 12,607 shares (11/26/21, reported above) this line item represents the 3rd exercise, of 25,000 shares of the total initial grant of 75,000 shares, leaving a balance of 25,000 shares remaining relating to this grant.

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).

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