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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt; text-align: center"><B>As filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 19, 2021</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: right"><B>&#9;Registration No. 333-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></P>

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<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 11pt"><B>UNITED
STATES<BR>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 9pt">Washington, D.C. 20549</FONT></B><B><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 10pt"><BR>
</FONT></B><B><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">__________________</FONT></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 14pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 6pt; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center"><B>Form&nbsp;S-8</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 11pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center"><B>REGISTRATION STATEMENT
<FONT STYLE="text-transform: none">UNDER </FONT>THE</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 11pt"><B>SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933<BR>
</B></FONT><B><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">__________________</FONT></B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 18pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 14pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: center"><B>NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES
CORPORATION</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center">(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 48%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><B>Delaware</B></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 52%; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; text-align: center"><B>36-3687863</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">(State or other jurisdiction of</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">incorporation or organization)</P></TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt">
        <P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">(I.R.S. Employer</P>
        <P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">Identification No.)</P></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center"><B>1319 Marquette Drive, Romeoville, Illinois 60446</B></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt">(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; padding-right: 5.4pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; text-align: center">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase"><BR>
NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 2019 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase">NANOPHASE
TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 2005 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">(Full title
of the plan)</FONT></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">&nbsp;</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><B>Jess A. Jankowski<BR>
Chief Executive Officer<BR>
Nanophase Technologies Corporation<BR>
1319 Marquette Drive<BR>
Romeoville, Illinois 60446</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">(Name
and address of agent for service)</FONT><BR>
<BR>
</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center">(630) 771&#45;6708</P>

<P STYLE="font: bold 9pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-weight: normal">(Telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)</FONT><BR>
<BR>
</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions
of &quot;large accelerated filer,&quot; &quot;accelerated filer&quot; and &quot;smaller reporting company&quot; in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act. (Check one):</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 22%">Large accelerated filer</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 46%"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9744;</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 27%">Accelerated Filer</TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 5%"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9744;</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD>Non-accelerated filer</TD>
    <TD>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0"><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9744;</FONT></P>
        <P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0">(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</P></TD>
    <TD>Smaller Reporting Company</TD>
    <TD><FONT STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif">&#9746;</FONT></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt">&nbsp;</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="width: 35%; border-top: Black 1.5pt double; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Title of Securities<BR>
to be Registered</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 13%; border-top: Black 1.5pt double; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Amount to be<BR>
Registered</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 18%; border-top: Black 1.5pt double; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Proposed Maximum<BR>
Offering Price<BR>
Per Share</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 18%; border-top: Black 1.5pt double; border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price</B></FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 16%; border-top: Black 1.5pt double; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt; text-align: center"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 9pt"><B>Amount of<BR>
Registration Fee</B></FONT></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt">Common Stock, $0.01 par value&#9;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt; text-align: center">3,000,000<SUP>(1)</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt; text-align: center">$1.52 <SUP>(2)</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt; text-align: center">$4,560,000 <SUP>(2)</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt; text-align: center">$497.50</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: bottom">
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt double; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt">Common Stock, $0.01 par value&#9;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt double; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt; text-align: center">150,000<SUP>(3)</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt double; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt; text-align: center">$1.52 <SUP>(2)</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-right: Black 1pt solid; border-bottom: Black 1.5pt double; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt; text-align: center">$228,000 <SUP>(2)</SUP></TD>
    <TD STYLE="border-bottom: Black 1pt solid; padding: 1.45pt 1.45pt 3pt; text-align: center">$24.87</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 8pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 3pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 9pt"><SUP>(1)</SUP></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &quot;Securities
Act&quot;), this registration statement also registers additional shares of Common Stock as may be offered or issued to prevent
dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, and similar transactions in accordance with the anti&#45;dilution provisions
of the Nanophase Technologies Corporation 2019 Equity Compensation Plan.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 8pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 6pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 9.35pt"><SUP>(2)</SUP></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and computed in accordance
with Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act using the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock as quoted
on the OTCQB marketplace on April 16, 2021, which was $1.52 per share.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 8pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 3pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 9pt"><SUP>(3)</SUP></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Pursuant to Rule&nbsp;416(a) under the Securities Act, this registration statement also registers
additional shares of Common Stock as may be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends,
and similar transactions in accordance with the anti&#45;dilution provisions of the Nanophase Technologies Corporation 2005 Non-Employee
Director Restricted Stock Plan.</TD></TR></TABLE>


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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center">PART I<BR>
<BR>
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">As permitted by Rule&nbsp;428 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &quot;Securities Act&quot;), this registration statement omits the information specified
in Part&nbsp;I of Form&nbsp;S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part&nbsp;I will be delivered to the participants
in the plans covered by this registration statement as required by Rule&nbsp;428(b). Such documents are not being filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the &quot;Commission&quot;) as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus
supplements pursuant to Rule&nbsp;424 under the Securities Act.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center">PART II<BR>
<BR>
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.6in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">Item 3. </FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Incorporation
of Documents By Reference.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0"></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;The following documents heretofore
filed by Nanophase Technologies Corporation (the &quot;Registrant&quot;) with the Commission are incorporated by reference in
this registration statement:</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 37pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(1)</FONT></TD><TD>The Registrant's Annual Report on Form&nbsp;10&#45;K for the fiscal year ended December&nbsp;31, 2020;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 37pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(2)</FONT></TD><TD>The Registrant&#8217;s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2021; and</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 37pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(3)</FONT></TD><TD>The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;8-A filed
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &quot;Exchange Act&quot;) (File No.&nbsp;000-22333) filed with the Commission
on October 14, 1997, including any subsequently filed amendment or report updating such description.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">In addition, all documents subsequently
filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post&#45;effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities offered hereby
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof from
the date of filing of such documents. Nothing in this registration statement shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished
but not filed on Form 8-K.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registrant will promptly provide
without charge to each person to whom a prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all information that has been incorporated herein
by reference (not including exhibits to the information that is incorporated by reference unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into such information) upon the written or oral request of such person directed to the Corporate Secretary
of the Registrant at its principal offices, 1319 Marquette Drive, Romeoville, Illinois 60446, telephone (630) 771&#45;6708.</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">Item 4.</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Description
of Securities<FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase">.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Not applicable.</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">Item 5.</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel<FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase">.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Not applicable.</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">Item 6.</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Indemnification
of Directors and Officers<FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase">.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Section&nbsp;145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the &quot;DGCL&quot;) provides that a corporation may indemnify any current or former director, officer or employee
or other individual against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative actions or proceedings, other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation, if the director,
officer, employee or other individual acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reasonable
cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that
indemnification only extends to expenses incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such actions, and the statute
requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable
to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation's
by-laws, disinterested director vote, stockholder vote, agreement or otherwise.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 4.5pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registrant's certificate of incorporation,
as amended, provides that all directors, officers, employees and agents of the Registrant shall be entitled to be indemnified by
us to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The Registrant's policy is to offer the fullest extent of indemnification permitted
under Delaware law.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Article VIII of the Registrant's certificate
of incorporation, as amended (&quot;Article VIII&quot;), provides that the Registrant shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted
by the DGCL, any director and any officer, employee or agent of the Registrant selected by the Board of Directors for indemnification,
such selection to be evidenced by an indemnification agreement, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, or is or was serving
at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, or if such person has previously been designated for indemnification by a resolution of the Board of
Directors, an officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests
of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct
was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner
which such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Article VIII also provides that the Registrant
shall indemnify any director and any officer, employee or agent of the Registrant selected by the Board of Directors for indemnification,
such selection to be evidenced by an indemnification agreement, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in its favor by reason
of the fact that such person is or was a director, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or if such person has previously
been designated for indemnification by a resolution of the Board of Directors, an officer, employee or agent of the Registrant,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Registrant and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter
as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication
of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registrant is also required under
Article VIII to indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection therewith, to the extent that such director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or in defense of
any claim, issue or matter therein.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registrant shall make any indemnification
under Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification
of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such director, officer, employee or agent has
met the applicable standard of conduct set forth above. Such determination shall be made (1)&nbsp;by the Board of Directors by
a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2)&nbsp;if such
a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (3)&nbsp;by the stockholders of the Registrant.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registrant shall pay expenses incurred
by a director or officer in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such
action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it
shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant as authorized
in Article VIII.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
above, (i)&nbsp;the Registrant shall not be obligated to indemnify a director, officer or employee or pay expenses incurred by
a director, officer or employee with respect to any threatened, pending, or completed claim, suit or action, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or otherwise (&quot;Proceedings&quot;) initiated or brought voluntarily by a director, officer or
employee and not by way of defense (other than Proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under the
provisions of Article VIII unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by the
director, officer or employee in such Proceedings were not made in good faith or were frivolous) and (ii)&nbsp;the Registrant shall
not be obligated to indemnify a director, officer or employee for any amount paid in settlement of a Proceeding covered hereby
without the prior written consent of the Registrant to such settlement.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registrant is not permitted to deem
the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Article VIII as exclusive of any other rights
to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, or vote of stockholders
or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such director's or officer's official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">Under Article VIII, the Registrant has
the right, authority and power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and
incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the Registrant would
have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Article VIII.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The provisions of Article VIII are deemed
to be a contract between the Registrant and each director, or appropriately designated officer, employee or agent who serves in
such capacity at any time while Article VIII is in effect and any repeal or modification of Article VIII shall not affect any rights
or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding
theretofore or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon such state of facts. The provisions of Article VIII
shall not be deemed to be a contract between the Registrant and any directors, officers, employees or agents of any other corporation
(the &quot;Second Corporation&quot;) which shall merge into or consolidate with the Registrant when the Registrant shall be the
surviving or resulting corporation, and any such directors, officers, employees or agents of the Second Corporation shall be indemnified
to the extent required under the DGCL only at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Registrant.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registrant shall continue the indemnification
and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Article&nbsp;VIII, unless otherwise provided when authorized or
ratified, as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant and shall inure to the benefit
of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">No director of the Registrant shall be
personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided,
however, that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i)&nbsp;for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (ii)&nbsp;for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)&nbsp;under Section&nbsp;174 of the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended, or (iv)&nbsp;for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended
to authorize the further elimination or limitation of liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Registrant
existing at the time of such elimination or limitation, in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided herein, shall
be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended DGCL. Any repeal or modification of Article VIII by the stockholders
of the Registrant shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal property of a director
of the Registrant existing at the time of such repeal or modification.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">The Registrant has entered into indemnification
agreements with certain of its officers and all the members of its Board of Directors. The indemnification agreements provide for
the indemnification, advancement and reimbursement of certain liabilities and expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 9pt 0 0; text-indent: 0.5in">&nbsp;</P>


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<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">Item 7.</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Exemption
From Registration Claimed<FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase">.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Not applicable.</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">Item 8.</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Exhibits<FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase">.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">The list of Exhibits is incorporated
herein by reference to the Index of Exhibits.</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: bold 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 0"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 0.5in"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">Item 9.</FONT></TD><TD STYLE="text-align: justify">Undertakings<FONT STYLE="text-transform: uppercase">.</FONT></TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.25in">(a)<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 7pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 37pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(1)</FONT></TD><TD>To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 55pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(i)</FONT></TD><TD>To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 55pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(ii)</FONT></TD><TD>To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
(if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the &quot;Calculation of Registration Fee&quot; table in the effective registration statement; and</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 55pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 25pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(iii)</FONT></TD><TD>To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
or any material change to such information in the registration statement;</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt 55pt; text-align: left">provided, however, that paragraphs
(a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Section&nbsp;13 or Section&nbsp;15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.</P>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 37pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(2)</FONT></TD><TD>That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide</I> offering thereof.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<TABLE CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="100%" STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 12pt"><TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
<TD STYLE="width: 37pt"></TD><TD STYLE="width: 18pt"><FONT STYLE="font-family: (normal text),serif">(3)</FONT></TD><TD>To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
at the termination of the offering.</TD></TR></TABLE>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 20pt">(b)<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 7pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each
filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;13(a) or Section&nbsp;15(d) of the Exchange Act (and each filing
of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section&nbsp;15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial <I>bona fide</I> offering thereof.</P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 20pt">(c)<FONT STYLE="font-family: Times New Roman, Times, Serif; font-size: 7pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;
</FONT>Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding)
is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person against the Registrant in connection with the securities being registered,
the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.</P>


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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>SIGNATURES</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form&nbsp;S&#45;8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Romeoville, State of Illinois, on April 19, 2021.&nbsp;</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="font: 12pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="3" STYLE="text-align: left"><B>NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION</B></TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">By:</FONT></TD>
    <TD COLSPAN="2" STYLE="vertical-align: bottom; border-bottom: black 1pt solid; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">/s/ Jess A. Jankowski</FONT></TD></TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; vertical-align: bottom; text-align: justify"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">Jess A. Jankowski</FONT></TD>

</TR>
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify; width: 55%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify; width: 3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="white-space: nowrap; vertical-align: bottom; text-align: justify; width: 13%"><FONT STYLE="font-size: 10pt">President and Chief Executive Officer</FONT></TD>
    <TD STYLE="vertical-align: top; text-align: justify"></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in"></P>


<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>&nbsp;</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>POWER OF ATTORNEY</B></P>

<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-indent: 0.5in">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in their respective capacities and on the respective
dates indicated opposite their names. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Jess A. Jankowski to execute
in the name and on behalf of such person any post-effective amendment to this registration statement and to file the same, with
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, making such changes in this registration statement as the Registrant
deems appropriate, and appoints Jess A. Jankowski attorney-in-fact to sign any amendment and any post-effective amendment to this
registration statement and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith.</P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="width: 32%; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt; text-align: center"><U>Signature</U></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 44%; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 10pt; text-align: center"><U>Title</U></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 24%; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt; text-align: center"><U>Date</U></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Jess A. Jankowski&#9;

<HR COLOR="Black" NOSHADE SIZE="1" STYLE="width: 100%; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">
Jess A. Jankowski</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 10pt">President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 20pt; padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">April 19, 2021</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ R. Janet Whitmore&#9;<HR COLOR="Black" NOSHADE SIZE="1" STYLE="width: 100%; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">
R. Janet Whitmore</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 10pt">Chair of the Board of Directors</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 20pt; padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">April 19, 2021</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Laura M. Beres&#9;<BR><HR COLOR="Black" NOSHADE SIZE="1" STYLE="width: 100%; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">
Laura M. Beres</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 10pt">Director</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 20pt; padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">April 19, 2021</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ Richard W. Siegel&#9;<HR COLOR="Black" NOSHADE SIZE="1" STYLE="width: 100%; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">
Richard W. Siegel</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 10pt">Director</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 20pt; padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">April 19, 2021</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;/s/ George A. Vincent, III&#9;<BR><HR COLOR="Black" NOSHADE SIZE="1" STYLE="width: 100%; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt">
George A. Vincent, III</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 10pt">Director</TD>
    <TD STYLE="text-indent: 20pt; padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">April 19, 2021</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 10pt">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-top: 8pt; padding-right: 2.4pt; padding-left: 2.4pt">&nbsp;</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

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<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 12pt; text-align: center"><B>INDEX OF EXHIBITS</B></P>

<TABLE CELLSPACING="0" CELLPADDING="0" STYLE="width: 100%; font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; border-collapse: collapse">
<TR>
    <TD STYLE="width: 10%; padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">Exhibit<BR>
<U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></TD>
    <TD STYLE="width: 90%; padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center"><U>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Description of Exhibit&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</U></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">4.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt">Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.1 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (the &quot;1997 10-K&quot;), SEC File No. 000-22333).</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">4.2</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000883107/000095013706008184/c07040exv99w3.htm">First Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation dated July 27, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 27, 2006, SEC File No. 000-22333).</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">4.3</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0000883107/000119312510156263/ddef14a.htm">Second Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation dated August 23, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed July 9, 2010).</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">4.4</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/883107/000119312516695341/d128490dex31.htm">Third Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 29, 2016).</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">4.5</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/883107/000138713119008979/ex3-1.htm">Fourth Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 22, 2019).</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">4.6</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt">By-Laws of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;3.2 to the 1997 10-K, SEC File No. 000-22333).</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">4.7</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt">Specimen stock certificate representing common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit&nbsp;4.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form&nbsp;S&#45;1 filed November 4, 1997, File No.&nbsp;333&#45;36937).</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">5.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="ex5-1.htm">Opinion of Taft Stettinius &amp; Hollister LLP.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">23.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="ex23-1.htm">Consent of RSM US LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">23.2</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="ex5-1.htm">Consent of Taft Stettinius &amp; Hollister LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">24</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt">Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement).</TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">99.1</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/883107/000138713119008979/ex10-1.htm">Nanophase Technologies Corporation 2019 Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 22, 2019).</A></TD></TR>
<TR STYLE="vertical-align: top">
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt; text-align: center">99.2</TD>
    <TD STYLE="padding-right: 4.4pt; padding-bottom: 12pt; padding-left: 4.4pt"><A HREF="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/883107/000119312505109975/ddef14a.htm">Nanophase Technologies Corporation 2005 Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to <FONT STYLE="background-color: white">Exhibit A to the Registrant&#8217;s Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF14A filed May 17, 2005</FONT>).</A></TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P STYLE="font: 10pt Times New Roman, Times, Serif; margin: 0 0 0.25in; text-align: right">&nbsp;</P>


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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES Corp", "cik": "0000883107", "assigned-sic": "3390", "irs-number": "363687863", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-255357", "film-number": "21836522"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1319 MARQUETTE DRIVE", "city": "ROMEOVILLE", "state": "IL", "zip": "60446", "phone": "6303231200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1319 MARQUETTE DRIVE", "city": "ROMEOVILLE", "state": "IL", "zip": "60446"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION", "date-changed": "19970305"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 19, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
__________________
Form S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933
__________________
NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES
CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified
in its charter)
Delaware
36-3687863
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
1319 Marquette Drive, Romeoville, Illinois 60446
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 2019 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
NANOPHASE
TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION 2005 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
(Full title
of the plan)
Jess A. Jankowski
Chief Executive Officer
Nanophase Technologies Corporation
1319 Marquette Drive
Romeoville, Illinois 60446
(Name
and address of agent for service)
(630) 771-6708
(Telephone
number, including area code, of agent for service)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant
is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions
of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of
the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated Filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☐
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller Reporting Company
☒
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Securities
to be Registered
Amount to be
Registered
Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
3,000,000
(1)
$1.52
(2)
$4,560,000
(2)
$497.50
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
150,000
(3)
$1.52
(2)
$228,000
(2)
$24.87
(1)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), this registration statement also registers additional shares of Common Stock as may be offered or issued to prevent
dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, and similar transactions in accordance with the anti-dilution provisions
of the Nanophase Technologies Corporation 2019 Equity Compensation Plan.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee and computed in accordance
with Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act using the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock as quoted
on the OTCQB marketplace on April 16, 2021, which was $1.52 per share.
(3)
Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act, this registration statement also registers
additional shares of Common Stock as may be offered or issued to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends,
and similar transactions in accordance with the anti-dilution provisions of the Nanophase Technologies Corporation 2005 Non-Employee
Director Restricted Stock Plan.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
As permitted by Rule 428 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), this registration statement omits the information specified
in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants
in the plans covered by this registration statement as required by Rule 428(b). Such documents are not being filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus
supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.
Incorporation
of Documents By Reference.
The following documents heretofore
filed by Nanophase Technologies Corporation (the "Registrant") with the Commission are incorporated by reference in
this registration statement:
(1)
The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020;
(2)
The Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2021; and
(3)
The description of the Registrant's Common Stock contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (File No. 000-22333) filed with the Commission
on October 14, 1997, including any subsequently filed amendment or report updating such description.
In addition, all documents subsequently
filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities offered hereby
then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement and to be a part hereof from
the date of filing of such documents. Nothing in this registration statement shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished
but not filed on Form 8-K.
The Registrant will promptly provide
without charge to each person to whom a prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all information that has been incorporated herein
by reference (not including exhibits to the information that is incorporated by reference unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into such information) upon the written or oral request of such person directed to the Corporate Secretary
of the Registrant at its principal offices, 1319 Marquette Drive, Romeoville, Illinois 60446, telephone (630) 771-6708.
Item 4.
Description
of Securities
.
Not applicable.
Item 5.
Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel
.
Not applicable.
Item 6.
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
.
Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL") provides that a corporation may indemnify any current or former director, officer or employee
or other individual against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection with civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative actions or proceedings, other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation, if the director,
officer, employee or other individual acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if he or she had no reasonable
cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that
indemnification only extends to expenses incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such actions, and the statute
requires court approval before there can be any indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable
to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation's
by-laws, disinterested director vote, stockholder vote, agreement or otherwise.
The Registrant's certificate of incorporation,
as amended, provides that all directors, officers, employees and agents of the Registrant shall be entitled to be indemnified by
us to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The Registrant's policy is to offer the fullest extent of indemnification permitted
under Delaware law.
Article VIII of the Registrant's certificate
of incorporation, as amended ("Article VIII"), provides that the Registrant shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted
by the DGCL, any director and any officer, employee or agent of the Registrant selected by the Board of Directors for indemnification,
such selection to be evidenced by an indemnification agreement, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than
an action by or in the right of the Registrant) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, or is or was serving
at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, or if such person has previously been designated for indemnification by a resolution of the Board of
Directors, an officer, employee or agent of the Registrant, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests
of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct
was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner
which such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful.
Article VIII also provides that the Registrant
shall indemnify any director and any officer, employee or agent of the Registrant selected by the Board of Directors for indemnification,
such selection to be evidenced by an indemnification agreement, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Registrant to procure a judgment in its favor by reason
of the fact that such person is or was a director, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or if such person has previously
been designated for indemnification by a resolution of the Board of Directors, an officer, employee or agent of the Registrant,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed
to the best interests of the Registrant and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter
as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Registrant unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication
of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
The Registrant is also required under
Article VIII to indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection therewith, to the extent that such director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, or in defense of
any claim, issue or matter therein.
The Registrant shall make any indemnification
under Article VIII (unless ordered by a court) only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification
of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such director, officer, employee or agent has
met the applicable standard of conduct set forth above. Such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by
a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such
a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders of the Registrant.
The Registrant shall pay expenses incurred
by a director or officer in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such
action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it
shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant as authorized
in Article VIII.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
above, (i) the Registrant shall not be obligated to indemnify a director, officer or employee or pay expenses incurred by
a director, officer or employee with respect to any threatened, pending, or completed claim, suit or action, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, investigative or otherwise ("Proceedings") initiated or brought voluntarily by a director, officer or
employee and not by way of defense (other than Proceedings brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under the
provisions of Article VIII unless a court of competent jurisdiction determines that each of the material assertions made by the
director, officer or employee in such Proceedings were not made in good faith or were frivolous) and (ii) the Registrant shall
not be obligated to indemnify a director, officer or employee for any amount paid in settlement of a Proceeding covered hereby
without the prior written consent of the Registrant to such settlement.
The Registrant is not permitted to deem
the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Article VIII as exclusive of any other rights
to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, or vote of stockholders
or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such director's or officer's official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office.
Under Article VIII, the Registrant has
the right, authority and power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and
incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such, whether or not the Registrant would
have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Article VIII.
The provisions of Article VIII are deemed
to be a contract between the Registrant and each director, or appropriately designated officer, employee or agent who serves in
such capacity at any time while Article VIII is in effect and any repeal or modification of Article VIII shall not affect any rights
or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding
theretofore or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon such state of facts. The provisions of Article VIII
shall not be deemed to be a contract between the Registrant and any directors, officers, employees or agents of any other corporation
(the "Second Corporation") which shall merge into or consolidate with the Registrant when the Registrant shall be the
surviving or resulting corporation, and any such directors, officers, employees or agents of the Second Corporation shall be indemnified
to the extent required under the DGCL only at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Registrant.
The Registrant shall continue the indemnification
and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Article VIII, unless otherwise provided when authorized or
ratified, as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant and shall inure to the benefit
of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
No director of the Registrant shall be
personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided,
however, that this provision shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's
duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL, as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the DGCL is amended
to authorize the further elimination or limitation of liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Registrant
existing at the time of such elimination or limitation, in addition to the limitation on personal liability provided herein, shall
be limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended DGCL. Any repeal or modification of Article VIII by the stockholders
of the Registrant shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the personal property of a director
of the Registrant existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification
agreements with certain of its officers and all the members of its Board of Directors. The indemnification agreements provide for
the indemnification, advancement and reimbursement of certain liabilities and expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Item 7.
Exemption
From Registration Claimed
.
Not applicable.
Item 8.
Exhibits
.
The list of Exhibits is incorporated
herein by reference to the Index of Exhibits.
Item 9.
Undertakings
.
(a)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information
set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
(if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs
(a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrant
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
at the termination of the offering.
(b)
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each
filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and each filing
of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide
offering thereof.
(c)
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and
controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding)
is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person against the Registrant in connection with the securities being registered,
the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the
Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements
for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Romeoville, State of Illinois, on April 19, 2021.
NANOPHASE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
By:
/s/ Jess A. Jankowski
Jess A. Jankowski
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in their respective capacities and on the respective
dates indicated opposite their names. Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Jess A. Jankowski to execute
in the name and on behalf of such person any post-effective amendment to this registration statement and to file the same, with
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, making such changes in this registration statement as the Registrant
deems appropriate, and appoints Jess A. Jankowski attorney-in-fact to sign any amendment and any post-effective amendment to this
registration statement and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith.
Signature
Title
Date
/s/ Jess A. Jankowski
Jess A. Jankowski
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
April 19, 2021
/s/ R. Janet Whitmore
R. Janet Whitmore
Chair of the Board of Directors
April 19, 2021
/s/ Laura M. Beres
Laura M. Beres
Director
April 19, 2021
/s/ Richard W. Siegel
Richard W. Siegel
Director
April 19, 2021
/s/ George A. Vincent, III
George A. Vincent, III
Director
April 19, 2021
INDEX OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit
No.
Description of Exhibit
4.1
Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (the "1997 10-K"), SEC File No. 000-22333).
4.2
First Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation dated July 27, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.3 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 27, 2006, SEC File No. 000-22333).
4.3
Second Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation dated August 23, 2010 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed July 9, 2010).
4.4
Third Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 29, 2016).
4.5
Fourth Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 22, 2019).
4.6
By-Laws of Nanophase Technologies Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the 1997 10-K, SEC File No. 000-22333).
4.7
Specimen stock certificate representing common stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed November 4, 1997, File No. 333-36937).
5.1
Opinion of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.
23.1
Consent of RSM US LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2
Consent of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24
Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this registration statement).
99.1
Nanophase Technologies Corporation 2019 Equity Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 22, 2019).
99.2
Nanophase Technologies Corporation 2005 Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit A to the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement on Form DEF14A filed May 17, 2005
).