NASA STTR 2009 Solicitation

SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (SBC):		RESEARCH INSTITUTION (RI):
NAME:	Giner, Inc.	NAME:	The University of Iowa, Div. of Sponsored Programs
STREET:	89 Rumford Avenue	STREET:	2 Gilmore Hall
CITY:	Newton	CITY:	Iowa City
STATE/ZIP:	MA  02466 - 1311	STATE/ZIP:	IA  52242 - 1320
PHONE:	(781) 529-0500	PHONE:	(319) 335-2123

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
John A. Kosek, Ph.D.
jkosek@ginerinc.com
89 Rumford Avenue
Newton, MA 02466 - 1311
(781) 529-0505

Estimated Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at beginning and end of contract:
Begin: 2
End: 4

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is for the development of an asymmetric supercapacitor that will have improved energy density and cycle life. Supercapacitors that utilize an aqueous electrolyte are limited to a maximum voltage of 1 volt due to the decomposition of water. Methods used to increase voltage include use of an organic electrolyte, which introduces additional complexity, cost and undesirable environmental concerns, or to use an asymmetric or hybrid configuration, with two different electrode materials. Supercapacitors that utilize MnO2 and carbon as the electrodes have been developed. However, due to changes in the MnO2 while cycling the capacitor to 2 volts, the MnO2 will change over time and lose its ability to cycle. One method around this problem, reported in the literature, is to charge the capacitor to 1.5 volts, resulting in reduced power and energy storage. In this Phase I program Giner, Inc. will demonstrate a novel solution to this problem by modifying the MnO2 positive electrode through the use of magnetic microparticles dispersed throughout the electrode structure. Using a Giner, Inc. novel high-energy density carbon as the negative electrode, complete, button-cell capacitors will be assembled and tested.

POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
Supercapacitors can be used as independent power sources or in a hybrid mode with rechargeable batteries to power Lunar surface mobility systems and/or portable electronic equipment such as cameras, camcorders and power tools. Supercapacitors can also be used as power sources for electromechanical actuators.

POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
There are three major markets where supercapacitors are needed, each having its own specific requirements. These are industrial power management, automotive and consumer electronics. By far the highest-value target is the global automobile industry which wants to use supercapacitors as load-leveling devices with batteries in electric and hybrid vehicles. The consumer electronics market needs small high-frequency devices in order to reduce battery size. The industrial power market needs the supercapacitors for power quality to handle power surges and short-term power loss.

NASA's technology taxonomy has been developed by the SBIR-STTR program to disseminate awareness of proposed and awarded R/R&D in the agency. It is a listing of over 100 technologies, sorted into broad categories, of interest to NASA.

TECHNOLOGY TAXONOMY MAPPING

Energy Storage Power Management and Distribution