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Low-Cost Thermoelectric Subsytem for Self-Powered Equipment

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Army 		Award ID:
97717 		Program Year/Program:
2010 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
A093-162-1090 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
Army 09-162 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Alphabet Energy, Inc.
239 8th street Suite 12 San Francisco, CA -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2010
Title: Low-Cost Thermoelectric Subsytem for Self-Powered Equipment
Agency / Branch: DOD / ARMY
Contract: W911QY-10-C-0063
Award Amount: $69,993.00
 

Abstract:

This SBIR Phase I project will address the technological risks in bringing silicon-based nanostructured thermoelectric materials from a proven laboratory concept to a scalable prototype device. Thermoelectric materials offer great promise in development of self-powered equipment for military use. They are compact, lightweight, highly reliable and virtually maintenance free. Implementation to date has been precluded by the high cost per watt and the low design temperature of existing thermoelectric materials Alphabet Energyf?Ts silicon nanowire thermoelectric materials use low-grade silicon as a raw material and a manufacturing process that utilizes standard semiconductor fabrication tools and facilities. This leads to a device cost in the order of 20A>/Watt, 50-100 times cheaper than existing thermoelectrics. Silicon nanowire thermoelectric materials have been tested at temperatures up to 600C without degradation or loss of performance. As such much greater temperature gradients are possible, leading to power densities with existing performance materials of up to 17 kW/m2. Alphabet Energyf?Ts SiNW thermoelectrics can provide a 100W of electric generation for a cost of as little as $16 at 10% efficiency. Furthermore we have an established development pathways to higher efficiencies of 20% or more, leading to a cost of only $8.

Principal Investigator:

Matthew Scullin
CEO
9175758724
MATT@ALPHABETENERGY.COM

Business Contact:

Adam Lorimer
CEO
9254081812
adam@alphabetenergy.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Alphabet Energy, Inc.
239 8th street Suite 12 San Francisco, CA 94103

EIN/Tax ID: 264589341
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No