The ultimate goal of the program is to develop a practical microelectrode which is capable of reliably measuring local carbon dioxide and oxygen tensions concurrently, in tissue and body fluids. continuous in-situ monitoring of pco(2) and po(2) can have significant impact in intensive care,… More

The use of bipolar ni/h2 batteries for the ever more demanding space applications is limited by the weight, integrity, cycle life and manufacturability of the positive nickel electrode. in phase i, this activity investigates the feasibility of using a number of novel concepts to fabricate advanced… More

An electrochemical means of separating pure hydrogen from a carbonaceous fuel-gas stream is proposed. the electrochemical hydrogen separator (ehs) is based on existing acid fuel cell technology. the fuel gas mixture (consisting of h(2), co, co(2), n(2) and other minor constituents such as h(2)s,… More

A novel miniature catheter-mounted electrode capable of reliable and real-time ph measurements in blood and tissue is proposed. the principle of the ph sensing electrode is based on the reversible hydrogen electrode, which is the ultimate standard for ph determination. difficulties associated with… More

As the use of neural stimulating electrodes has increased, more attention has been directed towards studying possible adverse side effects attendant to their use. this is especially true for applications which require chronic stimulation at high current densities. the risk of tissue damage, which is… More

An energy storage device based on a bipolar storage battery with 'in-situ' formation and regeneration capabilities is proposed. such a device is expected to find application in the utilization of off-peak power. the feasibility of the proposed system will be investigated by building a prototype… More

The goal of this program is to develop an inexpensive and reliable electrochemical fermentation sensor for on-line process control. the sensor is expected to be capable of measuring key ingredients such as glucose, carbon dioxide, and alcohol simultaneously, but independently. such sensors, when… More

An electrochemical, catheter-mounted gas sensor is proposed for concurrent and independent measurements of pco(2) and po(2) in blood. this sensor will also be investigated for the simultaneous measurement of pn(2)o. the co(2) and o(2) measuremes will be of interest for ventilation management,… More

The objective of the proposed research is to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of a catalytic metal electrode for determining glucose in biological fluids. such improvements could lead to the development of an implantable glucose sensor that could provide opportunities for a much greater… More

This research plan is directed towards improving artificial kidney technology, one of the specific areas of interest to the national institute of arthritis, diabetes, and digestiveand kidney diseases. by the middle of 1977 more than 36,000patients were being regularly treated for uremia by… More

An electrochemical method is proposed for the separation of hydrogen from a reformed-hydrocarbon fuel-gas stream for direct feed into a field portable phosphoric acid fuel cell used by the u.s. army. this electrochemical hydrogen separator (ehs) is based on current phosphoric acid fuel cell… More

A bench scale test program is proposed to evaluate use of cuo/zno desulfurization sorbents for the not regenerable sulfur removal from logistic hydrocarbon fuels reformed for use in dispersed phosphoric acid fuel cell power plants. an efficient regenerable desulfurization process operating within… More

Innovative approaches to solve the problems encountered at both the anode and cathode of the hydrogen-bromine battery system are addressed. advanced inert catalysts will be prepared as the positive electrode material and tested for their resistance against bromine intercalaton and subsequent… More

The objective of this effort is the development of a compact, efficient, and economical portable artificial kidney based on electrochemical regenerative dialysis. in this system, an electrochemical reactor is used to degrade waste products, principally urea, to benign gaseous reaction products. the… More

An improved carbon monoxide electrochemical detector is proposed for validating smoking behavior and demonstrating the health risk of smoking. the proposed potentiodynamic measurement should be unaffected by gases and vapors that are often found in a smoker's breath (h2s, ethanol, acetone,etc.).… More

This proposal is addressed to improvements in the internal rechargeable batteries for ventricular assist systems (vas).the major goal of this program is to develop an implantable battery that is suitable for vas backup in terms of stored energy, power, weight, volume, and long-term durability. the… More

The purpose of this research is to develop a device based ona novel electrochemical method for the determination of lithium that can be used in a psychiatrist's office for the analysis of serum or saliva samples. various electrode designs and experimental techniques will be tested to estab-lish the… More

The program's goal is to develop a safe, reliable system for the on-site production of sodium hypochlorite for direct use with the reverse osmosis water purification unit. hypochlorites are well known for their disinfecting power. the proposed method, however, requires the development of a suitable… More

The development of a continuous sampling gaseous hcl detector is proposed. the system will be based on a solid polymer electrolyte sensor cell. program goals include a response time of 90% of final response in less than 1 second and the ability to detect gaseous hcl levels as low as 0.1 ppm. when… More

The long-term objective of the proposed work is to modify carbon cartridges for efficient removal of blood toxins. carbon adsorption is employed for the removal of strongly adsorbable toxins in some artificial kidney systems as well as in most artificial liver configurations. in the regenerative… More

Platinum when used as an electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction in metal-air batteries and fuel cells suffers from the disadvantages of high cost, susceptibility to poisoning, and sintering. pyrolyzed macrocyclics continue to attract increasing attention as alternate catalysts, although stability… More

As evidenced by all ongoing development efforts, there is little doubt that a market exists for a fuel cell capable of rejecting carbon dioxide, but not suffering from the serious materials problems shown by phosphoric acid and higher temperature fuel cells, and achieving this goal at equal or… More

The development of a compact, low-cost instrument for monitoring the concentrations of co, no, and no(2) in submarine atmospheres is proposed. the instrument will be based on solid polymer electrolyte sensor cells and a novel potentiodynamic method for detecting low concentrations of gases. the… More

Lead dioxide deposited on nickel plated steel substrate is used as cathode material for reserve batteries. there is an expressed need by the army to develop electrodeposits of pbo(2) with superior adhesion and high coulombic capacity. we propose here an investigation of the pretreatment of the… More

Based on results of literature and laboratory evaluation, a fuel cell system will be selected for advanced testing/evaluation with an ultimate goal of six months continuous operation at constant power output. this six month power generation period will follow extended periods of inoperation… More

An improved electrochemical alcohol detector is proposed which can be used to quantitate and integrate alcohol consumption. this would be particularly useful as a measureof treatment compliance, but could also be used for law enforcement. the potential advantages of this electrochemical detection… More

The work described in this proposal is geared toward understanding the catalytic activity of -n(4) marcrocyclic mononuclear and binuclear complexes of cobalt and ruthenium and manganese. a tungsten complex will also be tested. the results are expected to throw light on the electrocatalysis of… More

This proposal aims to develop nio based (e.g., ni(1-x)lix0) catalyst supports to be used in teflon bonded oxygen cathodes of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells capable of operating at temperatures of 150 degrees centigrade and higher, in contrast to present-day space fuel cells which operate at temperatures… More

The methanol-air fuel cell is attractive for low and medium power applications (e.g., traction) and for bulk power generation in power plants that use methanol as a flexible, clean intermediate from coal conversion. the renewed interest in direct methanol fuel cells is reflected in an increasing… More

The development of an implantable glucose sensor could provide closer control of glucose levels in diabetics than is now possible. glucose sensor research, using a catalyticmetal sensor based on platinum, is currently being performedby giner, inc. considerable progress has been made so far in… More

The overall program goal is to develop a safe, efficient, and low cost oxygen generator for use in home therapy by patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (copd). the device would electrochemically convert water to oxygen using ambient air as a reactant and yield high-purity… More

The project involves the development of a low cost, high surface area corrosion-resistant catalyst support. two alternative preparation procedures will be evaluated, and resistance to corrosion will be introduced to the base material through selective doping with highly corrosion-resistant… More

This proposal is addressed to the need for development of a long-term replacement separator for aerospace ni-cd cells. at the present time pellon 2505 nylon separator, demonstrated to support more than 5 years of low-earth-orbit(leo) cycling in ni-cd cells, is no longer available, and the… More

Corrosion in high purity, low conductivity water will be investigated by electrochemical methods including polarization resistance, impedance spectroscopy and galvanic couples. rotating electrode and microelectrode methods will be used to evaluate the effect of several variables on the corrosion… More

An advanced proton exchange membrane fuel cell system is proposed to provide pulse power for a submarine electromagnetic launch system. the fuel cell system, when totally developed, will provide 15,000 amperes at 250 vdc (3,750 kw) for a period of 1 second. methods to improve the performance of… More

Silver oxide-zinc batteries are known for their high energy and power density and are used in lightweight radio and electronic equipment, submarines, torpedoes and space applications. as a primary reserve battery, this system finds application in missiles and other aerospace applications. this phase… More

The ultimate goal of the program is to develop a safe, reliable electrochemical hypochlorite generator specificallyfor use in the cleaning and disinfecting of reused dialyzers. hypochlorites have been widely used by health care facilities for the cleaning of reused dialyzers prior to sterilization… More

Deposition of thin diamond films by plasma assisted chemicalvapor deposition (pacvd) is a rapidly emerging area of technology being pursued in the united states, japan and the soviet union. diamond films have unique chemical and physical properties such as oxidation resistance and hardness.… More

Advanced development of a regenerative energy-efficient flue gas desulfurization (fgd) process, based on oxidation of so2 with br2 and electrolytic regeneration of the reagentbr2, is proposed. an air-depolarized cathode for the electrolysis cell will be developed to decrease the energy requirements… More

Rechargeable alkaline metal-air batteries, such as zinc-air,are attractive candidates for vehicle propulsion. an air electrode that can operate in both the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution modes is needed. a cost-effective approachto a bifunctional electrode is to use a supported catalyst;… More

The corrosion of steel reinforcing bars (rebar) in concrete structures is a problem with multi-million dollar impact in both the private and public sectors. chloride intrusion from natural (seawater or marine environments) or man-made (deicing salts) sources contributes to the breakdown of the… More

Heart valves made from pyrolytic carbon have been used clinically for over 20 years with bileaflet, central-flow designs dominating this market; however, an increased number of clinically significant postoperative bleeding episodes have been documented for patients with mechanical valves. the long-… More

The conventional clark-type oxygen sensor needs frequent recalibration when implanted in vivo due to membrane fouling, electrolyte thickness changes resulting from pressure variations, and the fluctuating flow rate of blood. an improved oxygen sensor is planned that reduces oreliminates many of… More

The development of a reliable, inexpensive, compact sensor capable of detecting 10 ppb unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine, hydrazine, and monomethylhydrazine with a response time of 10 minutes or less is proposed. during phase i of the proposed program we will develop an electrochemical sensor cell… More

Hybrid power sources combining conventional batteries with electrochemical capacitors are being designed toward advanced military, space, and commercial uses. Giner,Inc has developed a high-power density, all-solid proton exchange ionomer-based electrochemical capacitor that represents a potentially… More

Electrochemical ultracapacitors store energy by utilizing double layer and surface redox type processes. hybrid powersources that combine conventional batteries with electrochemical ultracapacitors are being designed toward electric vehicle as well as advanced space applications. giner, inc. has… More

Giner, Inc., proposes to develop advanced components leading to a high-current-density (2000 ASF or greater) electrolyzer that provides the same level of voltage efficiency and oxygen delivery as the present Navy OGP high-pressure electrolyzer that typically operates in the range of 1000 to 1200… More

A lack of inexpensive, corrosion-resistant materials for bipolar plates is a major hindance to commercialization of many advanced acidic electrochemical systems, where one of the electrodes operates at a high oxidizing potential. under these conditions, graphite, a relatively low cost material, is… More

Fullerness, particularly c70, have been shown to significantly enhance the nucleation rate for deposition of non-conductive diamond films on silicon. researchers have deposited the c70 layer with an ion cluster beam deposition process and activated the layer with a microwave plasma method. enhanced… More

Many neurological disorders are caused by the absence or failure of neural impulses, which result in the loss of control of certain body functions. in many cases, electrical stimulation can be used to restore the impaired functions. considerable progress has been made in this area in recent years… More

The fuel cell system receiving significant attention for transportation applications is the proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) which uses a hydrated sheet of a perfluorinated ion-exchange membrane as a solid electrolyte in the fuel cell. The liquid feed direct methanol PEMFC, because of its… More

A limitation of the typical electrochemical capacitor is the maximum available power and energy density, and an improvement in capacitance per unit weight and volume is needed. Giner, Inc. proposes development of a solid-ionomer electrochemical capacitor having a unit cell capacitance greater than 2… More

Researchers are developing a low-cost, efficient, stable composite steel anode structure that will be especially useful in synthetic electro-organic processes where system selectivity is of major concern and anode dissolution or deterioration can have a detrimental effect on product quality and… More

Currently, a 300 watt fuel cell stack of bipolar design projects a power density of about 40 watts per kilogram of system, excluding fuel and fuel tankage. In contrast, a battery of identically performing fuel cells which uses the concept of a single sheet of electrolyte shared by all cells, can… More

The development of an instrument for continuously monitoring SO2 levels in fluegas is proposed. The SO2 will be detected by means of an electrochemical sensorcell, which operates in a three-electrode potentiostatic mode. The proposedinnovation is develop-ment of an advance sensor cell which uses a… More

The California Clean Air Act, plus the New England states adoption of the Act, has placed a premium on high efficiency non-polluting mobile energy sources. US Military bases must comply with these regulations or pay heavy fines. The powering of a Navy aviation support equipment with a fuel cell … More

The US Navy could greatly increase the mission capabilities of the wide variety of underwater vehicles with the incorporation of the proper fuel cell power system. If the projected capabilities of fuel cells can be applied to an underwater vehicle, the range and speed of the vehicle could be … More

40445 Giner, Inc. The monitoring of ammonia gas, in addition to its importance in medical diagnosis, has become a routine requirement in industrial, process and environmental control. Commercially available sensors for these applications lack stability, suffer from uncontrollable temperature… More

58 Advanced Electrocatalysts for Direct Methanol Oxidation--Giner, Inc., 14 Spring Street, Waltham, MA 02154-4497; (617) 899-7270 Dr. John A. Kosek, Principal Investigator Dr. Anthony B. LaConti, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER82405 Amount: $74,974 In an effort to reduce… More

59 CO Tolerant Doped-Metal Oxide Catalysts--Giner, Inc., 14 Spring Street, Waltham, MA 02154-4413; (617) 899-7270 Dr. John A. Kosek, Principal Investigator Dr. Anthony B. LaConti, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-97ER82387 Amount: $74,987 The Department of Energy is funding the… More

Eighty tons of weight and 400 cubic feet of volume can be saved on submarines by substituting smaller and lighter fuel cells for the existing battery/diesel engine emergency power system. This would enhance performance in existing and future submarines b y making room for more electronic… More

Implementation of Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 set into motion a series of changes requiring Government use of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Small businesses can use EDI to acquire contracts to $100,000. EDI is the transmission of unambiguous information of business… More

The goal of the proposed program is the development of an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) which uses an electrochemical capacitor as the charge storage device. A novel low-cost metal oxide-solid polymer electrolyte combination will be investigated during the Phase I feasibility study. This… More

It is proposed to evaluate the feasibility of affordable fuel cells of simple design, having energy densities of 6 to 7 MJ/kg and about 3 Mj/liter, as candidates for the power supply in micro air vehicles. The feasibility of mass producing Fly-on- the-Wall- sized fuel cell power supplies will be… More

The goal of this program is to improve critical surface parts of space and missile structures through a high quality cover layer of diamond-like carbon (DLC). DLC layers can be produced as hard, smooth coatings with a low coefficient of friction. These layers would greatly improve wear quality of… More

The goal of the proposed program is the development of an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) which uses an electrochemical capacitor as the charge storage device. A novel low-cost metal oxide-solid polymer electrolyte combination will be investigated during the Phase I feasibility study. This… More

Development of a low-cost high-exclusion proton-exchange membrane (PEN) for use as an electrolyte in a liquid feed direct methanol fuel cell (LFDMFC) is proposed. The LFDMFC, because of its simplicity (no reformer, simple heat management) and inherent reliability (cell membrane flooded with water),… More

Not Available The proposed effort will develop and demonstrate an imbedded protection technique for integrated electromagnetic protection of military systems and COTS equipment. The proposed imbedded protection technique will apply to all electromagnetic environments but this research effort will… More

DESCRIPTION (Verbatim From Applicant's Abstract): An improved power supply for left ventricular assist devices and total artificial hearts is proposed. The presently used rechargeable battery packs typically provide 5 to 8 hours operation and weigh 3 pounds. Since the… More

DESCRIPTION (Unedited Applicant's Abstract): The goal of this project is to develop an advanced, miniaturized, all solid hybrid capacitor type (Electrochemical-Electrolytic) for the next generation of implantable defibrillators. The capacitor consists of a… More

Giner, Inc. proposes to develop a miniature electrochemical sensor that detects, in a single sensor, dissolved O2 as well as CO2 for use in space bioreactors. The proposed sensor will be insensitive to membrane fouling and hydrodynamic effects, providing accurate measurements without recalibration.… More

Giner, Inc. proposes to develop a miniature electrochemical sensor that detects, in a single sensor, dissolved O2 as well as CO2 for use in space bioreactors. The proposed sensor will be insensitive to membrane fouling and hydrodynamic effects, providing accurate measurements without recalibration.… More

In Phase I Giner, Inc. successfully demonstrated the feasibility of a novel electrochemical sensor that detects gaseous ethylene for NASA?s use in studying the effects of microgravity on plants and in growing plants for use in missions. Ethylene (C2H4) is a plant hormone that is active at very low… More

In Phase I Giner, Inc. successfully demonstrated the feasibility of a novel electrochemical sensor that detects gaseous ethylene for NASA?s use in studying the effects of microgravity on plants and in growing plants for use in missions. Ethylene (C2H4) is a plant hormone that is active at very low… More

"Electrochemical Capacitors (EC) with low cost, high performance and low equivalent series resistance (ESR) are needed to develop a wide range of military, space, and industrial applications.The primary objective of this project is to develop a high energy density, high power density, all-solid… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant):The goal of this project is to develop an advanced, miniaturized, all solid hybrid capacitor type (Electrochemical-Electrolytic) for the next generation of Implantable Cardioverter defibrillators (ICD.) By combining the advantages of the electrochemical capacitor… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Measurement of transdermal alcohol is potentially a very unobtrusive, inexpensive and accurate way of continuously studying the alcohol consumption behavior of subjects in research and field settings as well as for monitoring special populations. Several… More

The proposed work addresses the need for improved materials and portable devices for oxygen concentration and delivery to ease the disabling effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Phase I research will examine the process and compositional variables for a new oxygen permselective membrane… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant):The goal of this project is to develop an advanced, miniaturized, all solid hybrid capacitor type (Electrochemical-Electrolytic) for the next generation of Implantable Cardioverter defibrillators (ICD.) By combining the advantages of the electrochemical capacitor… More

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Ethylene (ethene) is a plant hormone that is active at very low concentrations in the developmental and reproductive processes of plants. Ethylene plays a crucial role in the complex processes of ripening and senescence of fruit, vegetable and floral crops, making this unique… More

Small, lightweight portable electric power devices are in great demand for many military and civilian applications. Giner, Inc. proposes to combine its Proton-Exchange Membrane advanced electrochemical capacitor and fuel cell technologies with arechargeable lithium-ion battery to develop a novel,… More

Sensors will be developed wherein the electroadsorpton of the target analyte will be monitored by measuring the surface conductivity of the high-surface-area nanoparticles oxide composite sensor. Sensitivity and response time are modulated electrically to shift surface electron states into or out… More

Next-Generation High-Altitude Airships (HAAs) are increasingly attractive for a variety of defense and non-defense oriented missions, including applications for homeland security, missile defense initiatives, surveillance, remote sensing, radar, and telecommunications. Providing adequate power for… More

New lithium battery electrolytes must be developed if these they are to be successfully deployed on NASA Platforms operating at -100oC to +100oC. Giner, Inc. has proposed an approach to preparing lithium ion conducting electrolytes which will provide cell current densities sufficient to carry the… More

Arsenic contamination in drinking water is a severe health risk to populations throughout the world. In recognition of this risk, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently lowered its water standard for arsenic from 50 ppb to 10 ppb. To comply with the new standard, there is an urgent need… More

75057-Transforming the United States from a fossil-fuel base economy to a ¿hydrogen economy¿ will require cost-effective methods for manufacturing and delivering hydrogen. The electrochemical dissociation of water into elemental hydrogen and oxygen is a well known and widely practiced means of… More

Alcohol related crashes are a serious public health issue, resulting in an estimated 17,400 deaths and 292,000 injuries in 2003. Giner, Inc. proposes to combine innovative ethanol sensors, sampling techniques and wireless capabilities to provide a novel, inexpensive and convenient law enforcement… More

The aim of this proposal is to develop a low power consuming solid polymer electrolyte based, miniaturized electrochemical CO2 sensor that can continuously, accurately and rapidly monitor CO2 concentrations in closed or nearly closed environments for monitoring and control approaches for… More

The Energies and Power Densities of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) are limited by the size and weight associated with the liquid pump, which must circulate the methanol/water fuel mixture so that 1) methanol and water can be added as needed, 2) heat can be removed, and 3) CO2 can be removed.… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Controlled exposure of primary and cultured cells to ethanol is an important experimental aspect of current biomolecular level research for the treatment of alcohol use disorders such as alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse. The results of this research are… More

75055-Conventional fuel cells, based on either a strip cell design or a bipolar plate design, have limitations in the trade-off between weight and power ¿ i.e., high power is obtained by adding weight. However, portable power applications will require that the fuel cell provide sufficient power to… More

The overall objective of the Phase I program is the design of a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell flow field amenable to water ejection from the active area of a fuel cell operating at elevated pressures. Elevated-pressure operation of hydrogen / oxygen fuel cells has many potential benefits for… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The development of a lightweight power supply, based on direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology, for use in a powered pediatric mobility device is proposed. The fuel cell system would replace the lead acid batteries presently used to power the mobility… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this Phase I SBIR program, the feasibility of a novel electrochemical oxygen and carbon dioxide control system, providing variable, cylinder-free, incubator control will be demonstrated by Giner, Inc. The goal is to achieve controllable oxygen and carbon… More

The proposed work addresses the need to rapidly detect certain sulfur contaminants in aviation fuel vapors to permit continuous operation of hydrodesulfurization units in hydrogen reformers. A sensor design has been developed which will permit differentiation of sulfur contaminants based on… More

75057S Transforming the United States from a fossil-fuel base economy to a ¿hydrogen economy¿ will require cost-effective methods for manufacturing and delivering hydrogen. The electrochemical dissociation of water into elemental hydrogen and oxygen is a well known and widely practiced means of… More

Arsenic in drinking water is a severe health risk to populations throughout the world. In recognition of this risk, the Environmental Protection Agency recently lowered its water standard for arsenic from 50 ppb to 10 ppb. To comply with the new standard, there is an urgent need to develop new,… More

79293S Devices that employ fuel cell technology (such as vehicles, portable devices, and remote installations) require frequent startup/shutdown cycles. Many of these cycles occur at freezing temperatures that require the development of advanced membrane materials, which can be produced at… More

The aim of this proposal is to develop a low power consuming solid polymer electrolyte based, miniaturized electrochemical CO2 sensor that can continuously, accurately and rapidly monitor CO2 for monitoring and control approaches of plant-production environments, to aid in NASA's biomass (edible… More

High-Altitude Airships (HAAs) are becoming increasingly important for a variety of defense and non-defense oriented missions, including applications for homeland security, missile defense initiatives, surveillance, remote sensing, radar and telecommunications. Providing adequate power for the… More

Ethylene is a plant hormone that is involved in regulating various aspects of plant growth and development such as seed dormancy, seedling growth, root and stem thickening, promotion of flowering, and promotion of fruit ripening and spoilage. Measurement of ethylene is important for developing a… More

The proposed work will evaluate new ordered intermetallic catalysts for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cells (DFAFC) in practical fuel cell hardware. The influence in catalyst composition, processing method, particle size and morphology on anode polarization will be investigated. The improved formic acid… More

An advanced method is proposed for applying very uniform electrode coatings for Lithium Ion batteries. The method will improve distribution of active material in the electrode for enhanced energy and power density and longer cycle life. With increased control of coating distribution and thickness,… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Menopause is a natural life stage for women and hot flashes are experienced by an estimated 70-80% of menopausal women. Hot flashes are also experienced by breast cancer survivors and men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. Research is ongoing to understand… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Measurement of transdermal alcohol is potentially a very unobtrusive, inexpensive and accurate way of continuously studying the alcohol consumption behavior of subjects in research and field settings as well as for monitoring special populations. Several… More

SITUATION: Ethylene is a natural plant hormone that plays a crucial role in the complex processes of ripening and senescence (decay) of fruit, vegetable and floral crops. Improvements in apple harvest and storage practices can be achieved by convenient and reliable methods of measuring ethylene in… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The proposed technology is a convenient and flexible system to control the gas atmosphere in cell culture incubators without the use of pressurized gas cylinders. The product would be an auxiliary unit/accessory to a cell culture incubator for laboratories that… More

A novel, cost effective method of manufacturing thin, very uniform anodes for Lithium Ion Battery electrodes in limited production quantities will be developed and demonstrated. The effort will focus on: 1) decreasing processing time; 2) reducing material waste in small lot sizes; 3) lower… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project addresses the development of Sensors wherein the adsorption of trace sulfur contaminants in natural gas will be monitored at the surface of the sensor. The system will be optimized to measure total sulfur species such as dimethyl… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed work is to develop a substantially improved technique of preserving the human pancreas in order to improve the quality of the isolated human islets that are harvested from it for use in human islet transplantation for Type 1 diabetes.… More

The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) is a promising candidate for a high-energy, lightweight, compact power source for military applications, particularly as a replacement for the 20W primary LiSO2 batteries currently used to power the electronic equipment of individual soldiers. With further… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project aims to develop a lightweight, quiet oxygen generator for use by patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The oxygen generator, based on the use of electrochemical concentrator, would replace cylinders,… More

Technical Abstract: GINER, Inc. proposes to design, develop and demonstrate a low-power consuming, screen-printed, thick-film electrochemical, carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) microsensor module that combines simultaneous real time detection of CO2 and O2 in one substrate and demonstrate its… More

GINER, Inc. proposes to design, develop and demonstrate a screen printed, thick-film electrochemical Monomethyl Hydrazine (MMH) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) microsensor module (multi sensor cell with integrated potentiostatic control, signal processing, wired and optional wireless, data transmission… More

The United States Air Force (USAF) has identified the need for an advanced and reliable ultracapacitor to prolong the operational life of military satellites that use batteries for their energy storage. Based on the requirements of the USAF, Giner, Inc. proposes the development of an innovative… More

The Direct Methanol Fuel Cell is a potentially attractive power source for battery replacement applications. Thus, it could be used as a portable power source for soldier applications. One drawback to Direct Methanol Fuel Cells based on a Proton Exchange Membrane is methanol crossover, a parasitic… More

To address the needs of the energy industry and a variety of utility applications, the DOE has identified the need for improved energy storage devices that utilize carbon nano-tubes and other nano-engineered materials. One of these energy storage devices, supercapacitors, could interface with the… More

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified the need for an accurate and field-rugged instrument to monitor Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) for use in monitoring building decontamination operations. The proposed Phase I study will evaluate the feasibility of designing and fabricating an… More

NASA has identified needs for compact high-energy-density primary and secondary batteries. Lithium and Lithium Ion cells, respectively, are meeting these needs for both manned and unmanned needs. The high power available in some of these cell chemistries can cause substantial internal heating in… More

Alkaline fuel cells (AFCs) have many advantages over proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) including more rapid electrode kinetics, ability to use non-noble metal catalysts, and the ability to use lower cost materials of construction. AFC drawbacks include the use of a liquid electrolyte such… More

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is aimed at developing a wireless microsensor for the detection of humans in cargo shipping containers. During Phase I, feasibility of the proposed microsensor was successfully demonstrated. In Phase II we will conduct detailed studies… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant) Numerous pollutant compounds are continuously released into the environment during their production, use and disposal. The resulting mixtures contaminate the environment and can be a potential threat to human bein gs. Heavy metals are significant… More

Recognizing the importance of ClO2 in disinfection and decontamination operations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had identified the need for portable, accurate and field-rugged chlorine dioxide (ClO2) monitors for use in monitoring building decontamination operations. To address the… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project addresses improving manufacturing methods and performance of an all-solid high energy/power density high-voltage capacitor packaged in a low-cost, bipolar multi-cell configuration. These devices can be used in a wide range of portable… More

Alkaline fuel cells (AFCs) have certain advantages over proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) including more rapid electrode kinetics, and the ability to use both non-noble metal catalysts, and lower cost materials of construction. AFC drawbacks include the use of a liquid electrolyte such as… More

The Giner, Inc. Phase I program will examine the response to explosive and toxic gas simulants of sensor arrays using a combination of specifically doped metal oxides (DMO) developed at Giner, Inc. in conjunction with metallophthalocyanine (MPc) thin films developed at the University of California… More

SITUATION: Pesticides are among the most widely used toxic chemicals in the world, and also among the most dangerous to human health. There is convincing evidence that pesticides play a role in human cancers. Contamination of natural waters with pesticides from agriculture is a problem of primary… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): High voltage Compact Capacitor for Implantable Defibrillator Worldwide, sudden cardiac arrest is a major health problem. The use of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) has become an increasingly accepted treat ment option, one that could save thousands… More

The United States Air Force (USAF) has identified the need for an advanced and reliable ultracapacitor to prolong the operational life of military satellites that use batteries for their energy storage. In this Phase II developmental effort Giner, Inc. will design, develop and fabricate a full-scale… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Portable Liquid-Fueled Catalytic Heater for Infusion Fluids The overall objective of this project is to develop a lightweight, portable, low-cost device powered by liquid fuel for warming intravenous fluids in-the-field distant from medical infrastructure.… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Low Cost Carbon Dioxide Generator for Cylinder-Free Cell Culture Incubators The proposed technology is a lower-cost method of controlling the gas atmosphere in cell culture incubators without the use of pressurized gas cylinders. The product would be an… More

NOAA supports over 25,000 underwater dive programs per year. To increase the duration and depth of these dives, the use of closed circuit mixed gas rebreathers (CCRs) is being considered. As there currently are no sensors to detect CO2 levels in the breathing gas, Giner, Inc. proposes to develop… More

The Department of Energy has identified a need for improved energy storage devices utilizing carbon nano-tubes and other nano-engineered materials. This project will develop an innovative all-solid-polymer-electrolyte Electrochemical Double-Layer Capacitor, utilizing nano-porous carbon powders… More

Although the generation of electricity from renewable sources such as solar or wind offers enormous potential for meeting future energy demands, these sources are intermittent. Therefore, an efficient electrical energy storage system is required to ensure that the electricity is reliably available… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The underground use of diesel equipment introduces high concentrations of toxic gases such as CO, NO and NO2 into a confined atmosphere. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has determined th at diesel exhaust is a potential human… More

NASA requires development of advanced rechargeable electrochemical battery systems for lithium ion batteries to support orbiting spacecraft and planetary missions. Giner, Inc. proposes to use its proprietary electrolytes to store and deliver power over a 20 year life operating life in… More

This Small Business Innovation Research project addresses improving manufacturing methods and performance of high-voltage capacitors. During Phase I, Giner, Inc. demonstrated novel and inexpensive methods for manufacturing and stacking of multiple cells

The United States Air Force has identified the need for an advanced and reliable ultracapacitor for space mission applications. Based on the requirements of the Air Force, Giner, Inc. proposes the development of an innovative Electrochemical Double-Layer Capacitor (EDLC) device that has low overall… More

An electrolyte will be demonstrated for lithium ion batteries with increased range of charge and discharge voltages and with improved fire safety. Experimental electrolytes will be prepared in the anhydrous state and compared with existing commercial electrolyte formulations for conductivity,… More

NOAA supports over 25,000 underwater dive programs per year.  To increase the duration and depth of these dives, the use of closed circuit mixed gas rebreathers (CCRs) is being considered.  As there currently are no sensors to detect CO2 levels in the breathing gas, Giner, Inc. proposes to… More

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified the need for a practical analytical instrument for the detection of air emissions resulting from animal manure management systems. Based on this very important need, Giner, Inc. proposes to study and evaluate the feasibility of designing and… More

While the sensing of Total Residual Oxidant (TRO) in potable water and treated water streams is well understood and devices are commercially available, the technology to measure TRO in seawater is not well developed. The overall objective of this project is to design and build a field-deployable,… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): High Voltage Compact Capacitor for Implantable Defibrillator: Worldwide, sudden cardiac arrest is a major health problem. The use of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) has become an increasingly accepted trea tment option, one that could save thousands… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The toxicity of trace heavy metals found in drinking water, food, and the environment is an area of increasing national and international concern. Heavy metals are significant environmental pollutants because they tend to persist, tend to bioaccumulate and can… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Portable Gas Perfusion System for Pancreas Preservation. A Phase II SBIR program is proposed to further develop the novel pancreas preservation technique and system for future implementation with human pancreata for cli nical islet transplantation. Methods to… More

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is for the development of an asymmetric supercapacitor that will have improved energy density and cycle life. Supercapacitors that utilize an aqueous electrolyte are limited to a maximum voltage of 1 volt due to the decomposition of water.… More

The Giner, Inc. Phase II program will implement a the Hybrid Sensor Array (HSAT) working prototype based on sensor development and pulsed operating conditions developed in Phase I. The HSAT uses combinations of semiconductor doped metal oxide materials developed at Giner, Inc. together with… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Electrochemical Home Monitoring System for Lithium Blood Level Lithium in the form of lithium carbonate is an important pharmacological treatment option in bipolar disorder and other conditions. However, lithium has a narrow therapeutic treatment range and… More

Satellite batteries used to store and deliver pulse power for low-earth and geosynchronous orbital missions must function over many years. As power demands increase with expanded functionality, ultracapacitors must be coupled with the batteries to store and deliver the power necessary in short… More

The United States Army (The Army) has identified the need for a device that can accurately and non-invasively measure the partial pressure carbon dioxide (PCO2) that is suitable for use in combat casualties who have hypovolemic shock, acute lung injury, massive resuscitation, and other factors that… More

The army requires substantial improvements in battery energy density compared to current lithium-ion and lead acid batteries. The lightweight lithium-air battery has the potential to meet these needs, provided certain material characteristics can be improved, including extended lithium… More

Ammonia emissions from extensive agricultural operations such as livestock (beef, dairy, poultry, swine and horses) have gained much attention in recent years due to the adverse effects of these emissions on public health and outdoor air quality. Ammonia is considered an important pollutant due to… More

Pesticides are among the most widely used toxic chemicals in the world, and are demonstrably dangerous to human health. Their effects can be especially widespread when pesticides enter into drinking water. There are growing demands for field-deployable devices for reliable on-site monitoring of… More

The Giner, Inc. Phase II program will implement a the Hybrid Sensor Array (HSA) working prototype based on sensor development and pulsed operating conditions developed in Phase I. The HSA uses combinations of semiconductor doped metal oxide materials developed at Giner, Inc. together with… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Electrochemical Home Monitoring System for Lithium Blood Level Lithium in the form of lithium carbonate is an important pharmacological treatment option in bipolar disorder (BD) and other conditions. However, lithium has a narrow therapeutic treatment range and… More

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The underground use of diesel equipment introduces high concentrations of toxic gases such as CO, NO and NO2 into a confined atmosphere. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has determined that diesel exhaust is a potential human… More

As the consumer and industrial requirements for compact, high-power-density, electrical power systems grow substantially over the next decade; there will be a significant need for novel electrode/electrolyte materials for high-power/energy-density capacitors. To meet the strong market demand for… More

Water is one of the most crucial provisions that astronauts need to live and work in space, whether orbiting Earth, working at a lunar base or traveling to Mars. For long-duration human missions, drinking water can come from a variety of sources including treated humidity condensate, urine, hygiene… More

Implementation of new technologies for soldier survivability often requires lightweight and reliable power sources. Direct-Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFCs) are attractive both in military and consumer electronics applications where their energy density, power output, and lifetime make them ideally suited… More

The development of an inexpensive, field pesticide sensor would serve a large market for researchers, municipalities and regulatory agencies to minimize the risks involved in pesticide use. The long-term vision is for this technology to become a key environmental science tool to support water… More

Unknown amounts of drift in reference cell readings and unforeseen failures of reference cells can disable shipboard Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) systems and result in expensive rework and repair. Therefore, the United States Navy has identified the need for robust and reliable… More

Improvements in rechargeable battery energy, power and safety are required for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program. Giner, Inc. will use its advanced lithium-ion hybrid cell chemistry, together with improvements in packaging designs to achieve the necessary energy and power densities. The… More

The proposed work will evaluate a new class of non-precious metal anode catalysts for Direct Ethylene Glycol Fuel Cells (DEGFC) in practical fuel cell hardware. The influence of catalyst composition and morphology on processing method, and on anode polarization will be investigated. The improved… More

The United States Army (The Army) has identified the need for a device that can accurately and non-invasively measure the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) that is suitable for use in combat casualties who have hypovolemic shock, acute lung injury, massive resuscitation, and other factors… More

Development of a sensor to detect select trace toxic heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Mn, Ni, and Zn) in water is proposed. Using an automatic side-stream sampling technique, this compact, electrochemical sensor will use small volumes of water and detect metals in the low parts-per-billion range. The novel… More

This SBIR phase I program is directed toward the development of novel, nanoporous silica anodes for low-earth-orbiting (LEO) spacecraft power applications. Silica has attracted a lot of attention as a next-generation anode material because of its very high theoretical capacity compared to… More

Hydrogen/oxygen polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFCs) are an attractive means of generating electricity in lunar and space applications due to their high energy density. The PEMFC generally consists of an MEA supported on two sides by gas diffusion media. The gas diffusion media of choice is… More

Nanostructured Thin Films (NSTF), used as substrates for catalysts, have proven to be highly active for oxygen reduction in fuel cells. This improvement in activity is expected to transfer to electrolyzer technology as the NSTF substrate layer, with a ruthenium oxide based catalyst, is used for… More

Giner Electrochemical Systems, GES, has developed an advanced static vapor feed electrolyzer that has greatly simplified operation compared to traditional electrolyzers. The vapor feed results in sub-saturated product gases which eliminates the need for gas/liquid separation and for the ISS allows… More

Ground and surface water contamination from anthropogenic sources is an important problem that must be monitored and remediated to protect the environment and human health. Chromium and cobalt contamination of groundwater is a problem in industrialized areas, where waste from plating and other… More

Hydrogen production from proton exchange membrane water electrolysis is attractive due to its simple and clean nature. But it is still expensive resulting from expensive materials (membrane, catalyst, and bipolar plate) and electricity consumption. The industries and Department of Energy have been… More

ABSTRACT: Giner, Inc. (Giner) proposes to use its 5-V battery materials to provide the desired cycle life and specific energy for this application. The cell uses electrolyte combinations of selected cosolvents to reduce or eliminate carbonate solvents for greatly improved electrochemical stability… More

ABSTRACT: A passive microfludic enzymatic biofuel cell platform is designed and evaluated. This micropump mimicks water transpiration from a tree roots to its leaves; in this way, biofuels are driven in a flow-through mode along microfludic channels in the biofuel cell substrate. Due to the nature… More

To increase specific power of thermal batteries, thinning the electrodes by cold pressing has been the primary approach to decrease the electrolyte diffusion distance during discharge and to reduce the significant portion of electrode materials un-reacted after discharge. This approach however,… More

Improvements in rechargeable battery energy, power, cycle life and safety are required for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program. During Phase II, Giner, Inc. will use its advanced lithium-ion hybrid cell chemistry developed in Phase I, together with improvements in packaging designs to achieve the… More

The Army has a requirement for rechargeable lithium-air cells and batteries for Silent Watch needs. The cells are uniquely qualified for these needs because of their higher cell voltage and specific energy density compared with other battery systems. The lightweight lithium-air battery has the… More