Company
Portfolio Data
Back to Company SearchCITY LABS, INC.
UEI: LD55BB3D8EM7
Number of Employees: 8
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
SBIR/STTR Involvement
Year of first award: 2018
6
Phase I Awards
9
Phase II Awards
150%
Conversion Rate
$696,573
Phase I Dollars
$13,817,811
Phase II Dollars
$14,514,384
Total Awarded
Awards
Enhanced Tritium Power Source for Autonomous Nuclear Tritium Sensors (ANTS)
Amount: $3,800,000 Topic: AFX234-DCSO1
This proposal outlines the development of a 100-microwatt tritium betavoltaic power source designed for long-duration autonomous sensor systems in space, building on prior successful demonstrations with the Self-Powered Imager (SPI) system. Utilizing tritium, a low-energy beta emitter with a half-life of 12.3 years, embedded in stable metal tritides (e.g., titanium or scandium), the power source generates electricity through solid-state beta decay energy conversion using III-V semiconductor junctions. The proposed system is housed in a hermetically sealed package to operate in the extreme conditions of Low Earth Orbit (LEO), withstanding factors such as helium outgassing and wide temperature fluctuations.The effort leverages results from prior Phase I and Phase II work, where City Labs’ NanoTritium™ technology successfully powered a Michigan Micro-Mote (M3) system for over three years without maintenance. The new development phase will focus on optimizing tritium loading, semiconductor efficiency, and system packaging to deliver a reliable, scalable ?100 µW output. This technology eliminates the need for traditional batteries or solar panels, offering a fault-tolerant power solution ideal for small satellites and distributed sensing platforms.The program includes the fabrication of betavoltaic cells, integration with tritium-loaded tritides, and rigorous performance and compliance testing under ANSI standards. The ultimate objective is to deliver a spaceflight-qualified power unit capable of energizing autonomous satellite sensors for 15+ years, aligning with Department of the Air Force objectives in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Space Domain Awareness (SDA). Additionally, this technology supports U.S. leadership in space nuclear power systems and provides an alternative to foreign isotope-based systems.
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase II
2025
DOD
USAF
Regulatory-Compliant Tritium Mini-RHU: A Scalable Alternative for Next Gen. Space Power
Amount: $149,969 Topic: S13
City Labs proposes a Tritium Mini-Radioisotope Heater Unit (Mini-RHU) utilizing advanced tritium metal hydride technology to provide scalable, long-duration thermal energy for dynamic power conversion systems. The Tritium Mini-RHU is a compact, cost-effective alternative to traditional Pu-238-based Radioisotope Power Systems (RPS), offering thermal power ranging from milliwatts to hundreds of watts and beyond. Leveraging City Labs' expertise in tritium betavoltaics and metal hydride storage, the Mini-RHU uses titanium tritide as a heat source. Tritium’s advantages include minimal shielding requirements, long half-life, commercial availability, and low regulatory overhead. Following NSPM-20 guidelines, tritium RHUs will provide a streamlined regulatory framework for space launches. City Labs' state-of-the-art facility, capable of safely handling and loading tritium, positions the company to support future missions. The Mini-RHU’s modular design enables scalable power generation and meets NASA’s needs for high-efficiency, autonomous power systems in harsh space environments. Unlike Pu-238, tritium is readily available, significantly reducing both costs and regulatory complexities. City Labs’ facility is capable of managing tritium under high pressures and temperatures. Furthermore, City Labs is actively pursuing FAA payload approval for a 2026 launch of betavoltaic devices containing up to 20 kCi of tritium, reinforcing its commitment to safely integrating tritium-based technologies in space missions. This project’s intended deliverable, the 1,000 Ci Mini-RHU can be bundled to provide scalable power while reducing regulatory barriers, streamline mission planning, and provide a cost-effective, reliable power solution for lunar and deep-space exploration. It directly supports NASA's goals for long-duration lunar operations and high-power energy generation, advancing the integration of tritium-based RHUs into NASA’s RPS program.
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase I
2025
NASA
Nuclear Beta Emitter Ion Engine for Small Satellites - Phase II
Amount: $1,250,000 Topic: AFX235-CSO1
This Phase II effort is a collaboration between City Labs and the University of Michigan to develop a nuclear beta emitter ion engine for small satellites. Focused on enhancing mission capabilities and longevity, the project addresses the challenges of power limitations and inadequate propulsion solutions in small satellite platforms like CubeSats. Small satellites, pivotal in modern space operations for their cost-efficiency and quick deployment, face constraints due to their minimal power capacity and size. These limitations hinder their propulsion options, affecting mission scope and duration. The proposed nuclear beta emitter ion engine is a groundbreaking solution, designed to operate within the power limitations of small satellites. It integrates advancements in tritium nuclear technology and plasma propulsion to provide an optimized balance of specific impulse (500 s to 3,000 s) and thrust (?1 mN), necessary for sustained operations and maneuverability in space. Key components of the project include: 1) Enhancing tritium density in the engine's injection sources, improving efficiency while minimizing size. 2) Conducting theoretical and practical assessments of propulsion effectiveness through modeling and laboratory demonstrations. 3) Evaluating various propellants to optimize engine performance for different mission requirements. 4) Ensuring the engine's capability for extended missions with efficient power use and thrust generation. This Phase II effort will culminate with a laboratory demonstration of the thrusting capability of the nuclear ion engine.
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase II
2024
DOD
USAF
Leadless Pacemaker Betavoltaic Power Source
Amount: $472,571 Topic: NHLBI
PROJECT SUMMARY Lithium-based batteries have reached a technological limit of ~0.6 cc for use in leadless cardiac pacemaker (LCP) applications and a useful life of only 7-10 years1. The 0.6 cc volume comprises over 60% of the LCP’s total volume and is a technological miniaturization limit to LCPs. City Labs is developing a small betavoltaic power source with sufficient current density to power a pulse generator circuit. The battery’s volume can be as small as 0.1 cc, while providing a consistent ≥3.8 μW for 20 years. This size reduction would allow for an LCP to be implanted in the atria, permitting multi-chamber leadless pacing for patients previously relegated to conventional pacemakers. Furthermore, a decrease in size grants both the manufacturer of delivery catheters and the clinicians operating them a higher degree of flexibility, both in developing the device design process and implantation protocol, even permitting multiple LCPs in a single chamber. A longer-lived pacemaker also expands the potential use of LCPs to younger demographics. LCPs’ retrieval is difficult, so they are often used in patients who are not projected to outlive the device2,3. We will be designing and manufacturing a polyimide-based package that will be biocompatible and safe. It will fit in a leadless pacemaker’s titanium housing, providing double encapsulation. The project goal is to make the most reliable polyimide device configuration and manufacturing approach for transition to market approval with the pacemaker manufacturing partner. We propose a research and development optimization of industrial production methods necessary to ensure consistent and controlled scale-up manufacturing according to recognized quality standards and FDA requirements. City Labs has developed and utilized helium generation and leak models for the predictive design of packaging and components indicative of measured values. Model and measured data will undergo rigorous tuning and analysis under this CRP to ensure adequate predictability and tolerance for diffusion rates in a polyimide package. Furthermore, all packages will be tested to ensure they meet the designed leak rate. The final optimization of the prototype entails the sealing of end caps, feedthroughs, wall thickness, and leak rates associated with components and sealing processes. We will quantify the component and sealing process leak rates with a helium leak detector. This will enable us to produce a package, with controlled hermeticity and minimized volume, from components fabricated in-house, like additively manufactured end caps and specialized electrical contacts. To fabricate and seal such polyimide components, we will acquire and customize an advanced 3-D printer capable of manipulating high performance thermoplastics. The CRP effort will support development needed to harmonize the modeling, prototyping, and manufacturing processes. This project aims to develop the manufacturing capability and commercialization maturity our pacemaker manufacturing partners require.
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase II
2024
HHS
NIH
Tritium-Powered Nanowatt Crypto Key Retention and Security COMSEC System that Requires No Battery Replacement for Life of Equipment
Amount: $1,250,000 Topic: AFX234-DCSO2
The Air Force needs COMSEC devices that do not require battery replacement for their battery-backed key retention and security. City Labs is proposing the adaptation of its Model P100 tritium betavoltaic power source along with an adapted version of L3Har
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase II
2023
DOD
USAF
NanoTritium Betavolatic Power Systems - TACFI
Amount: $376,250 Topic: J201-CSO1
In summary, the effort will improve City Labs’ tritium power source to provide long-term power for small space satellites. The stacking methodology for robust assembly of devices with multiple layers of metal hydride and semiconductor material will be enhanced in this project. The effort will also result in an adequate helium diffusion mechanism in the electronic package which will enable the use of higher amounts of tritium in the power source devices. City Labs is the only licensed manufacturer of betavoltaic power sources which carries a General License allowing distribution to anyone in the United States without requiring the recipient to possess a radiation license. The proposed tritium betavoltaic power source will meet the AF customers’ requirement for an ultra-small, temperature resilient, continuous 5-10 year power capability.
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase II
2023
DOD
USAF
Tritium Battery AA Form-Factor for Continuous 20+ Year Operation for COMSEC Crypto Key Security
Amount: $75,000 Topic: AFX235-CSO1
The AFLCMC needs a battery to provide a lifetime of continuous power to COMSEC devices for its backup key retention and security. The proposed adaptation of City Labs’ tritium betavoltaic battery (Model P100) power source will provide consistent power (at
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase I
2023
DOD
USAF
Nuclear Beta Emitter Ion Engine for Small Satellites
Amount: $75,000 Topic: AFX235-CSO1
Satellites continue to be miniaturized to mitigate cost and procurement cycle times. Additionally, smaller satellites enable missions not feasible with larger satellites. For example, multi-point-simultaneous global sensing is achievable via constellation
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase I
2023
DOD
USAF
Self-Powered Wireless Autonomous Imaging Sensor for Satellites
Amount: $1,700,000 Topic: AFX234-DCSO1
Space Force needs an autonomous self-powered imaging sensor with onboard processing capabilities and wireless communication for satellites that can operate continuously under broad temperature conditions for the life of the space vehicle. The ability to a
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase II
2023
DOD
USAF
Tritium Power Source for Small CubeSats P2
Amount: $850,000 Topic: J201-CSO1
The Air Force has a need for a compact sized power source (≤ 35 cc’s) for ultrasmall satellites (e.g. femtosatellites) that can provide continuous power for 5-10 years under broad temperature conditions while operating in the dark (i.e., no exposure to l
Tagged as:
SBIR
Phase II
2021
DOD
USAF