Award Data

Space structures and high-speed interceptor technology can be significantly enhanced if lighter weight composite structural materials that possess inherently high-strength damage-resistant properties can be developed on a cost-effective basis. A novel laminated sandwich composite concept is proposed that has the potential to significantly improve upon stiffened composites in use today. Current sti ...

This Phase I effort is to synthesize and develop material processing systems that possess the mechanical properties, and processing characteristic for use in flexible electronic and photonic devices. We will demonstrate the feasibility of fabricating in this effort to optimize the modulator/switch and investigate ways to render it manufacturable and multichip module packagable. This would include ...

The objective of this project is to develop a multi-purpose combination type optical fiber sensor that enables simultaneous sensing of microstructural evolutions in the sensor materials and the environmental conditions such as pressure and temperature. It is very well known that materials subjected to fatigue and high temperature will go through microstructural changes such as plastic deformation, ...

Intellectual Merit: This STTR project will develop novel engineered Clostridia strains for fermentation to economically produce butanol as a biofuel from sugars derived from starchy and lignocellulosic biomass. Butanol is an important industrial solvent and potentially a better transportation fuel than ethanol. Recent rising oil prices and limited petroleum resources have generated high interest i ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I research project will develop a gas-solid spouted bed bioreactor (SBB) for solid state fermentations (SSF) to produce hydrolytic enzymes (e.g., amylases, phytase, chitinase) and biochemicals (e.g., lactic acid) from solid starch materials. SSF offers higher production rates and easier product recovery compared to submerged fermentation (SmF), ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project aims to apply the unique property of high-speed jets to adhere to nearby curved surfaces, with a turning radius much larger than the size of the jet - the so-called COANDA effect. The proposed research aims to take advantage of this effect to manipulate thermal spray jet stream and vector the stream such that the hot thermal gas stream ...

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project demonstrates a flexible fuel reformer (FFR) that employs unique mechanical construction and operation to enable extended catalyst life in the presence of sulfur-containing heavy fuels. The FFR utilizes a low-cost heat exchanger that is constructed from metal foil and coated with a dual-function sulfur-tolerant catalyst. Combustion and ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I project will investigate the technical and commercial feasibility of coating metal foils with a solid sorbent so that they act as a desulfurizing component for pre-treatment of sulfur-laden liquid fuels. The coated foils will be inserted into a small heat exchanger that acts as a platform unit for conversion of liquid fuels to hydrogen for fue ...

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) PhaseI project will design, fabricate, and validate a novel low cost (under $40/kW), robust and high-power-density 3 kW fuel cell (FC) power-conditioning system (PCS) suitable for lower voltage FC stacks, comprising a high-frequency inverter (HFI) followed by a forced cyclo-converter, which yields the following features: (1) 300 kHz switching frequen ...

This STTR Phase I project is designed to develop a novel process for fabricating a nano-grained ceramic material for infrared windows. The proposed STTR builds upon our previous Phase I (Navy) SBIR experience to minimize risks and maximize the likelihood of success. This proposed work will utilize an innovative method to fabricate nanocrystalline alumina infrared window materials with significantl ...