Award Data

C47-22a-271388Current manufacturing of ethylene via ethane steam reforming comes with significant energy and carbon emissions costs. A route to low carbon ethylene will have a meaningful impact as ethylene production is the largest world-wide and US chemical process in terms of production volumes, energy consumed, and carbon emitted. This project fits well within an overall strategy for decarboniz ...

The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in creating an independent. assistive Braille learning device for blind people. The ability to read Braille is highly correlated with improved independence and quality of life. An estimated 70% of the blind are unemployed yet, of that subpopulation that is Braille literate, only 10% are unemployed. T ...

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project seeks to accelerate the transition from chemical pesticides to non-chemical alternatives by providing farmers with a sustainable, long-term solution for managing pests, while reducing agricultural impacts on human health and the environment. Today, strawberry farmers are reliant on chemical p ...

2-Methylfuran (2MF) is a versatile non-food biomass derived low-carbon number performance advantaged bio-product. It is used for manufacturing green solvent (2-methyltertrahydrofuran (2MeTHF)), UpSycal?oils that RiKarbon is manufacturing for end-use natural and sustainable cosmetics and lubricants, and chemical/pharmaceutical intermediates. Currently fossil-based incumbent solvents such as tetrahy ...

AMA Tech is developing a cutting-edge metallization paste for the front side of tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) crystalline silicon solar cells, which is expected to improve TOPCon solar cell efficiency significantly. This development has the potential to disrupt the photovoltaic industry, as even a small increase in cell efficiency could replace current passivated emitter and rear cell ( ...

We propose simulating and constructing a prototype and demonstration brassboard of a Secondary Emission Sensor Module (SESM) for ionizing radiation, as a proof of principle and guide to Phase II and beyond. The simulation and design studies will guide module construction and point to future uses. The module is anticipated to have ~30 stages of sheet dynode with an areal size ~15x15 cm. It will be ...

Hydroelectric power is the world’s largest source of renewable energy. These massive systems are designed for a 50+ year service life, but this can be shortened substantially by poor water quality and the presence of flowing debris, sediment, minerals, and micro- and macro-organisms. Biofouling (especially from invasive species), corrosion, and erosion (wear) of critical components can limit per ...

The US Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development agency has an objective to reduce reliance on high-activity commercial and industrial radioactive sources used in calibration systems. One approach to achieve this goal is by use of novel electron accelerators to produce x-rays that can reach the needed gamma-ray dose rate, repeatability, and stability for calibration, while reducing ...

Statement of the Problem: In a reactor environment, plasma material interaction (PMI) issues associated with radio frequency (RF) coupling structures are similar to those for the first wall and have been identified as a potential problem. A primary challenge is to obtain high power, breakdown resistant density couplers with low loss compatible with fusion plasmas. Advanced manufacturing techniques ...

We propose to develop a robust, accurate multi-frequency torsional resonator system for the simultaneous measurement of density and viscosity of molten salts at high temperature. The goal of the project is to develop a stand-alone resonator system that is accurate, precise and robust, and therefore can be used as the basis for a laboratory instrument as well as an on-line process monitoring sensor ...