| Posted: Jan 12, 2011 |
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GoNano is awarded NSF Phase I SBIR Grant to develop Nanospring-based Four-Way Catalytic Converter for Diesel Engines
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(Nanowerk News) The National Science Foundation awarded a Small Business Innovative
Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grant in the amount of $149,000 to GoNano Technologies, Inc., an Idaho
based materials company specializing in the development of high surface area Nanospring™ materials.
The objective is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of a novel four-way catalytic converter for
diesel emissions. While there is ongoing research to combine multiple functions into a single catalytic converter, GoNano is applying its proprietary Nanospring technology to improve on current concepts.
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| a) SEM cross section image of Nanospring coated cordierite b) SEM image of the Nanospring coated cordierite wall.
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"Pending changes in the regulatory environment have given way to opportunity in diesel emission
catalytic converters and particulate mitigation." said Tim Kinkeade, CEO of GoNano Technologies.
"GoNano's ability to coat a wide variety of substrates, coupled with the capacity to coat silica
Nanosprings with a full spectrum of active catalysts, provides an ideal technology fit for integration
into the catalytic converter market."
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In 2013, stricter EPA requirements for diesel emissions standards will come into effect, per
Environmental Protection Agency 40 CFR Part 63: National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air
Pollutants for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines . These new regulations will affect carbon
emissions both in terms of allowable particle size and number of particles. While there are proposals to meet impending particulate matter regulations, none actively integrates all the required functions into a single catalytic converter. The broader commercial impacts of these new regulations represent
significant market opportunity in the United States and in Europe.
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"Engineering the morphology of the inner surface of the Catalytic Converters is a novel approach and
has the potential to increase reactivity through higher exposed surface area, decrease light-off
temperature through smaller particle size, and decrease cost through reduced amounts of PGM," added
Dr. Giancarlo Corti, Vice President of Research and Development.
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About GoNano Technologies
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GoNano develops and manufactures environmentally friendly high surface area nanomaterials
for pollution control, catalysis, composites and sensory technologies. The company's patentpending
nanomaterials provide a scalable, industry compatible, low cost platform for highly
efficient solutions. More information may be found at www.gonano-9.com. GoNano
Technologies, Inc can be reached at 208-892-2000.
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