LiteTrough is a low-cost, high-efficiency solar concentrator for space and water heating in commercial and industrial settings.

NEI Corporation is a Somerset, NJ based company that has received a grant(s) from the Department of Energy's SBIR/STTR program. The abstract(s) for these grant award(s) are provided as well since they provide insights into NEI Corporation's business and areas of expertise. This project will develop a mercury remediation solution for use in contaminated U. S. Department of Energy waste sites, thereby leading to cost savings and reducing the time for treating waste. This project will develop a nanoparticle-based technology that will enable coal-fired power plants to use sources of water other than conventional rivers or lakes. The nanoparticle-based technology also will be a cost-effective means of reducing the amount of toxic metals in waste water streams. This project will develop a nanotechnology-based coating for industrial vapor-to-liquid heat exchangers to enhance their performance by an order of magnitude and improve the energy efficiency of associated industrial processes. This project will enhance the properties of elastomeric seals for use in geothermal energy production and has the potential to prevent failure of equipment and to allow the down-hole equipment to run unattended for extended periods of time, greater than 5 to 10 years, without maintenance. This project will develop nanoparticle-enabled fluid technology to enhance the performance of heat exchangers used in small refining operations across the nation. The enhanced performance of the heat exchangers will lead to cost and energy savings. This project will develop technology to enable a new generation of lithium-ion batteries to deliver the required energy storage capacity at an economical price, making Li-ion batteries for electric utility and vehicles applications more affordable. This project will develop non-chromate corrosion inhibiting coating systems to enable the use of light weight magnesium alloys in automobiles. The result will lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and fuel costs to consumers. This project will develop a nanotechnology-based, self-healing industrial coating. Self-healing coatings will have significantly enhanced operational lives, thereby reducing installation and repair costs. There is a present need for sorbent technologies to enable coal-fired power plants to reduce mercury emissions. This project will develop a novel environmentally friendly sorbent technology to meet this emerging market need. This project will develop and implement a new class of 5V high voltage Li-ion battery cathode material for next generation plug in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). This project will develop advanced materials for use as the internal wall of a fusion power reactor is expected to enable fusion power to be developed as a sustainable source of energy. This project will develop a new chemistry for Flow Batteries so that it is highly efficient, has long cycle life, and is low cost and non-toxic. The flow batteries can be used by utilities, in conjunction with green power generation, such as solar, wind turbine and fuel cell. The proposed technology will reduce the cost of the mercury removal from coal fired power plants, thereby allowing power plant utility companies to comply with mercury regulation. The proposed novel modified dielectric percolative composites will be reliable and will have high dielectric constant, thereby delivering high energy density to future solid state pulsed power systems.

M V Systems is a company that received a SBIR Phase II grant for a project entitled: Fabrication of Low-bandgap Nano-crystalline SiGeC Thin Films Using the Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) Technique. Their their award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 project is to develop thin film tandem solar cells, comprising of nanocrystalline silicon and silicon carbon (nc-Si and nc-Si:C) absorber materials, with a conversion efficiency of ~20%. The phase I project successfully developed one of the key components, i.e. intrinsic nc-Si:C with a band gap, Eg, of ~ 1.5 eV and with good opto-electronic properties. This key material will be used initially in phase II to fabricate cells in a single junction configuration with an efficiency goal of ~10%. Previously, developed "device quality" nc-Si materials, with Eg ~1.1eV, were used to produce solar cells with efficiency ~8%. Integrating the two devices in a tandem junction configuration is forecast to yield efficiencies of ~18%. Further improvement in the tandem junction device efficiency,to ~20%, may be achieved via the use of buffer layers at the p/i or i/n interfaces and by increasing the grain size which would boost the open circuit voltage, Voc. Higher efficiency thin film tandem solar cells will be critical to achieving the low costs necessary to achieve widespread adoption of photovoltaic energy generating systems. M V Systems is a company that received a SBIR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Fabrication of low-bandgap nano-crystalline SiGeC thin films using the Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PECVD) technique. Their project will develop nanocrystalline SiGeC thin films with an optical bandgap (Eg) in the range of 1.6-1.8 eV, and enhanced absorption characteristics, leading to low-cost, high-efficiency (>20%) photovoltaic devices. Previous attempts at improving the photovoltaic efficiency have not been consistent and successful. The proposed approach uses plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique to deposit these films, which allows greater control of the process by being able to manipulate the plasma and electron temperatures to control the ion density in the plasma, with an independent control of the process parameters. This flexibility does not exist in the currently used techniques. With the proposed technique, stable and consistent films of SiGeC can be deposited on the desired substrate at moderate temperatures. If successfully developed, this technique could provide higher efficiency solar cells for the alternative energy market. The goal of highly stable films, high deposition efficiency and process scalability for large-scale manufacturing can only be achieved if the basic process can be proven. The broader impacts of this research will be in the low-cost photovoltaic (PV) devices for power generation market. If successfully completed, this research could lead to a strong partnership between solar cell manufacturers and equipment manufacturers, leading to a potentially lucrative photovoltaics market. Currently, electricity generated with available PV devices is 3-4 times more expensive as the conventional electricity. The selected materials (Si, Ge and C) for the thin film are abundantly available, which can significantly reduce the raw materials costs. A large body of basic knowledge of the requirements of solar electricity for the competitive market already exists, which makes the development of the process with a realistic performance target easy to achieve. The main challenge for achieving this goal lies in being able to control the deposition process to assure a stable and robust process, as the previous work has not been able to achieve consistent results. The initial target of producing a triple-junction thin-film solar cell is a worthy first product demonstration, which will prove the efficacy of the proposed technique, and attract third-party funding with little difficulty.

Gratings Incorporated is a company that received a STTR Phase I grant for a project entitled: High Efficiency Thin-film Photovoltaics on Low-cost Substrates by Layer Transfer. Their their award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and their project will apply high aspect ratio, nm-scale, columnar, and crystalline Si structures as templates for high-quality growth of thin-film GaAs solar cells on low-cost flexible substrates. Sub-10-nm Si seed layers are expected to facilitate growth of low-defect density GaAs films. The aspect ratio of nm-scale structures also serve as sacrificial layers for removal of completed GaAs solar cell. Epitaxial growth and characterization of GaAs films on nm-scale Si structures will be carried out at the Center for High Technology at the University of New Mexico. Successful phase I STTR research will lead to commercialization of high (~ 20 %) efficient, flexible solar cells for applications in a wide range of terrestrial and space environments. Multiple substrate re-use and inherent large area processing capability of Si will result in significant cost reductions. High quality heteroepitaxial GaAs growth on Si has been a subject of intense research. Due to its direct bandgap, GaAs is attractive for a number of optoelectronics applications and its integration with Si-based microelectronics has been a cherished goal. The lattice and thermal expansion mismatches with Si make it difficult to grow good device quality layers. We have recently demonstrated as the Si seed dimension is reduced below 100 nm dimensions, the quality of heteroepitaxial growth increases rapidly. The nm-scale Si structures are formed using low-cost, large area methods based on conventional integrated circuit processing methods. Successful research effort will lead to reduction in PV generation costs, and enhanced applicability of thin-film PV in terrestrial and space environments because in contrast with competing thin-film solar cells, GaAs thin-film solar cells will not suffer from light-induced performance degradation.

Copernican Energy is a company that received a STTR Phase I grant for a project entitled: High Temperature Solar Thermal Biomass Gasification and Co-reduction of Iron Oxide to Produce Hydrogen. Their project applies renewable solar thermal energy as a novel way to provide the necessary energy for biomass gasification and will develop the science required to engineer an efficient solar biomass-to-hydrogen conversion facility. Central to this innovation is the use of a reduced oxide intermediate to chemically store solar energy in a solid, allowing continuous hydrogen generation when the sun is not shining. The operating conditions necessary to achieve economically viable conversion of biomass resources to hydrogen will be determined through in-depth study "on-sun" and in the laboratory of heat transfer, reaction rates, and rate controls. The proposed project provides a bridge between solar energy and biomass to surmount many of the challenges associated with conventional biomass processing technologies. The high temperatures available from solar thermal systems allow for high conversion and selectivity, maximizing utility of the valuable biomass resource and extending its ability to replace conventional fossil fuels. Use of a reduced metal oxide stretches the applicability of solar energy beyond the daylight hours. Combined use of solar energy with biomass has a larger potential than either renewable resource alone to provide renewable fuels for the future. Copernican Energy is a company that received a STTR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Rapid Solar Thermal Gasification and Pyrolysis of Cellulose and Lignin for Renewable Fuel Production. Their research uses solar thermal energy as a novel way to provide the necessary energy for renewable biomass conversion to energy or useful products, and develops the science required to engineer an efficient and commercial solar biomass conversion facility. Gasification and pyrolysis of representative biomass resources grown near solar regions (corn stover and sorghum) will be converted via thermogravimetry, controlled aerosol reaction, and on-sun demonstration of feasibility of this approach. Thermogravimetric experiments will determine chemical kinetics and necessary conditions for high selectivity to syngas and tar mitigation. Economic simulations will determine the main cost drivers for product price and highlight the syngas products with highest near-term scale-up potential. The broader impacts of the application of solar thermal energy to thermochemical conversion of biomass will provide a bridge between these sources of renewable energy that could surmount many of the challenges associated with conventional biomass processing technologies. Combined use of solar energy with biomass has a larger potential than either renewable resource alone and will help alleviate the nation's dependence on foreign petroleum, generate economic growth, create fuels that are environmentally sustainable, and have an impact on the overall human impact of energy use.

Banpil Photonics is a company that received a SBIR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Significantly High-Efficiency a-Si Photovoltaic Cell. Their project seeks to develop significantly high-efficiency photovoltaic-cells (a.k.a. solar-cells) for clean electrical energy generation commercial applications. Conventional solar cell has the limitation in conversion efficiency, basically structured dependent. For example, it is ~18% for Si-crystal and 10% for amorphous-Si (a-Si) based Solar cell. It is required to develop solar cell utilizing material systems, which are matured, friendly to manufacturing, and can be fabricated using low-cost substrate (e.g. glass). A goal of the Phase I program is to carry on research and development of a-Si-solar cell for conversion efficiency of >25%, utilizing the glass-substrate. The design, performance simulation, and parameters optimization will be carried out during the Phase I activity period. The proposed high-efficiency a-Si solar cell structure is widely applicable to next generation commercial applications. According to the recent report from the US Department of Energy (DOE), today's global market for solar cells for all commercial applications is $7-billion and it is estimated to grow with >40% per year, reaching $39-billion in 2014. Commercial applications include residential applications (on-grid/off-grid), industrial applications (both on-grid and off-grid), and consumer products (e.g. cell phones, PDAs). Banpil Photonics is a company that received a SBIR Phase I grant for a project entitled: High Speed Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC). Their Project will investigate an innovative high-speed Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) utilizing conventional material (like Polyimide) and standard manufacturing process. With the continued growth in integration density of CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) technology and clock frequency of chips, the aggregate bandwidth required between future-generation chip and chipsets will increase sharply. Driving serial or parallel data at high speed over conventional flexible board (i.e. flexible) is becoming a severe design constraint in many applications. Today, divding high speed signal into several low speed signals and driving those signals in parallel are common. Utilizing this technique will not fully utilize the chip speed and thereby overall system performance will not be improved siginificantly. The proposed technology will produce the high speed FPC which will have high signal carrying capacity. Utilizing such FPC will help to increase the system performance significantly. The objectives of the project are to identify the best structural configuration and its optimization, to design the polymer-based FPC, and to establish the feasibility of high speed FPC board. In this project, prototypes will be made and evaluated, measurements of relevant characteristics will be conducted, and a development path for the next phase of the project will be identified. The project has the potential to produce the high speed interfaces suitable for next generation digital and RF system applications. The direct commercial potential of the project lies in interface products, manufactured using this technology for HDTV, flat-panel display, networking equipments, imaging and video systems, etc. Banpil Photonics is a company that received a SBIR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Multipurpose and Multispectral Sensor for Geo-science and Astronomical Instruments. Their research project will develop monolithic multicolor sensor array with high quantum efficiency, high speed for numerous system applications. Today's sensor arrays are designed to work either in visible or in near infrared region. None of these can provide broad spectral response (300 nm to 2500 nm). The goal is to identify suitable sensor array structures for broad range detection, with combined high quantum efficiency, and high speed. A second goal is to identify a photodiode or sensor array structure where each pixel can be addressed independently. The design, performance simulation, and also physical parameters optimization will also be carried out as a part of this research activity. The broader impact of this research is that broad spectral image sensors are required for various ground-based, air-borne, space-borne geo-science instruments for the atmospheric properties measurement, surface topography, range detection, remote sensing, and real-time monitoring of biological systems. To date, several sensors covering different spectral ranges are used for this purpose. Next generation geo-science and astronomical instrumentation require single sensor that can detect multiple spectral bands (300 to 2500 nm of wavelengths) and could be used for multiple earth-science measurements. Use of single sensor having multifunctional capability can make the instrument unusually small, light and low-power requirement. Banpil Photonics is a company that received a SBIR Phase I grant for a project entitled: Innovative High Speed Electrical Chip-to-Chip Interconnects for Next Generation Systems. Their project proposes chip-to-chip interconnects that can be applied in the mother boards/ backplanes of high performance networking systems and/or computing systems, where 10 Gb/s and beyond signal speed per channel (serial) is necessary. An innovative cost-effective high speed (> 20Gb/s per channel) electrical interconnect technology, which can increase the signal carrying capacity of the board-level interconnects more than 6 times than the conventional technology is proposed. This can help to route the signal longer distances (at given signal-speed) at lower cost by using standard dielectric material. The company will investigate the design, feasibility of the concept, process development, and data analysis approaches in order to create a high speed interconnect PCB board, and each can carry the signal as high as 20 Gb/s. The proposed high speed electrical chip-to-chip interconnects will have applications in high speed PCs, high-speed servers, networking systems, gaming machines, communications systems, imaging and video systems.