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Low Cost and Scalable Nano-Silicon Production

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Army
Contract: W15QKN-14-C-0011
Agency Tracking Number: A2-5391
Amount: $990,825.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: A12-005
Solicitation Number: 2012.1
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2012
Award Year: 2014
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2013-12-20
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2015-12-23
Small Business Information
1300 West Koenig Lane Suite 230
Austin, TX 78756-1412
United States
DUNS: 000000000
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 David Irvin
 Director of Research
 (512) 757-5441
 davidirvin@systemsandmaterials.com
Business Contact
 Malcolm Prouty
Title: President
Phone: (512) 968-4750
Email: malcolmprouty@systemsandmaterials.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

The U.S. Army has a need for cheap, high quality nanosilicon powder. With similar energy density and better aging effects than nanoaluminum, silicon is an excellent candidate for use a metal nanofuel. In Phase I, Systems and Materials Research Corporation (SMRC) demonstrated a scalable method for production of nanosized silicon. By the end of Phase I, we have demonstrated that a 5kg/day production rate at a cost of $177/kg is possible. By the end of Phase II, SMRC will have demonstrated a continuous flow process that generates >99% pure silicon with a narrow size distribution around 85nm. The as-produced materials will be passivated and be transported as micron sized powders with no hard agglomerates. SMRC will also demonstrate a path to large scale production at a cost nearing $50/kg. We will first commercialize nanosilicon as a propellant additive and green pyrotechnic materials with the help of our scale-up partners ATK and Esterline. As the purity of these materials increases with process and feed stock controls, we will explore uses such as ink-jetable nanosilicon suspensions for low cost, disposable electronics.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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