| Posted: Jul 23, 2014 |
University nanotechnology spinout developing revolutionary battery technology
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(Nanowerk News) A University of Central Florida (UCF) spinout company is at the forefront of perfecting specialized nanotechnology designed to extend the longevity of batteries and superconductors. Batteries will be lighter, stay charged longer and need to be replaced less frequently—and that’s a win for our smart phones and our environment.
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HyCarb, led by Sigrid Cottrell, recently signed an exclusive license agreement with UCF for a patented and patent-pending carbon nanotube material, developed by UCF nanotechnology researcher Lei Zhai and his team ("Ultralight Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Aerogel").
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| Ultralight multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) aerogel is fabricated from a wet gel of well-dispersed pristine MWCNTs.
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“Energy storage in the form of batteries and super-capacitors is the initial application of the licensed technology,” explains Cottrel. “The next applications involve creating leading-edge sensors, catalysts, filters and transistors.”
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HyCarb is in the process of applying for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants, citing the licensed technology as a key component in the creation of energy storage and advanced sensor prototypes for government agencies.
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Upon successful completion of Phase I and Phase II SBIR grants, HyCarb will work with prime contractors to supply various federal agencies with state-of-the-art energy storage devices and sensors to detect hazardous materials.
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The company also has plans to incorporate their technology into the consumer battery market. In addition to reducing the overall weight of current batteries, HyCarb intends to utilize the specific characteristics of its licensed carbon materials to improve battery charge times and cycles while extending its overall life. The technology will minimize the risk of failure resulting from fire, lessen the amount of energy used to create the batteries and minimize the number of batteries that end up in landfills.
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“Our carbon materials will power the next generation of electronic equipment, from laptops to cell phones,” says Cottrell. “For instance, cell phones will be equipped with light-weight batteries able to power the device for up to five days on a single charge.”
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“We feel that the carbon nanotube technology has the potential to revolutionize energy conversion and storage,” says Svetlana Shtrom, director of UCF’s Office of Technology Transfer. “We are thrilled to partner with HyCarb’s dedicated team of experts to take this technology to the next level.”
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HyCarb, Inc. plans to continue working closely with the UCF NanoScience Technology Center, employing students and graduates with expertise in nanotechnology.
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About HyCarb, Inc.
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HyCarb, Inc. is a Florida-based, for-profit, woman-owned small business, headquartered at the UCF Business Incubator in Research Park. HyCarb is developing leading-edge batteries, super-capacitors, fuel cells, solar panels, sensors, catalysts, filters and transistors that utilize graphene and carbon nanotube technologies to deliver safe, efficient, state-of-the-art products and systems for advanced nano-materials and energy storage systems. HyCarb aims to create enough value for carbon-based products that there is no need to burn fossil fuels or waste carbon dioxide out of our smokestacks and tailpipes. www.hycarbinc.com
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