Award Data

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT: We propose to develop and commercialize the next generation of low cost, low power, ruggedized, and accurate phytoplankton single cell and whole colony counting, characterization and classification system called HABStats. We will accomplish this using the following three unique and innovative approaches: 1) High-throughput color, Light Field Imaging Flow Cytometry to acquire mo ...

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I proposal addresses the development of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants for hydropower plants. Eco-friendly lubricants are necessary to safeguard marine environments from lubricant leaks, spillage, or accidental release from malfunctioning systems or equipment. By developing the next generation of high performing lubricants using eco-friendly add ...

From a recent DOE EERE report, approximately 50 million dry tons of organic waste is available in the US for upgrading into renewable fuels (and chemicals) equivalent to nearly 7,300 MMGGE.These wastes include inedible fats and greases, food and beverage waste waters, livestock manures, municipal wastewater, and the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes. Conversion of these feedstocks into re ...

Li/CFx primary batteries are considered to be a superior choice for military applications that require long life, light weight and very low self-discharge. The high cost of current carbon monofluoride materials, however, adds significantly to the total cost of the battery. Reactive Innovations, LLC (RIL) proposes to develop a method to produce CFx materials with over a 50% cost saving. The process ...

Synchrotron radiation is a powerful tool for measuring structural properties of materials. Important applications of higher energy synchrotron X-rays include measurement of strain and material evolution during processing, studies of composite materials and studies of layered systems such as environmental-barrier coatings, metal- nitride coatings and solid oxide fuel cells. Detector requirements fo ...

Next generation three dimensional (3D) X-ray imaging requires novel x-ray scintillating materials with high efficiency and high spatial resolution. Using a conventional homogeneous scintillator plate, there is a compromise between efficiency and spatial resolution. The strong coupling between spatial resolution and efficiency renders difficulty for conventional scintillators to be used for high re ...

In the USA there are 15 synchrotron and free-electron-laser facilities, funded primarily by the Department of Energy (DOE); and 52 similar facilities in other countries. Synchrotrons and free-electron lasers are extremely bright sources of x-ray and vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) radiation. These intense beams are used to study the binding among atoms and many other topics that relate to the ...

The two reflectometers at SNS serve rapidly growing communities in the fields of nanoscience, membrane bioscience, surfactant chemistry. Unique capabilities of these instruments include ultrahigh neutron intensity for in-plane diffraction and off-specular/grazing- incidence small-angle scattering measurements, and the combination of reflectometry and high- angle diffraction for resolving large-s ...

Electrolysis of water is an important tool for automotive hydrogen refueling and renewable energy storage applications. The current membranes for electrolysis suffer from low efficiency, low mechanical strength and high hydrogen crossover at the high pressures needed for direct refueling. The DOE has identified a need for high-pressure electrolyzer efficiencies to reach 76% based on lower heating ...

There is a need to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and their supporting infrastructure to enable FCEV competitiveness. Many reliability problems stem from plastic and elastomer seals employed in hydrogen systems that leak and degrade as a result of the extreme temperature and high pressure hydrogen environments. There is a critical need f ...