Each of the companies will receive approximately $1.15 million for Phase II SBIR awards.
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office
September 6, 2024
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) announced funding for four small businesses to take innovative manufacturing technologies and materials to the next level as part of DOE’s Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. Each of the companies will receive approximately $1.15 million for Phase II SBIR awards. Overall, $54 million was awarded to small businesses across DOE to pursue scientific, clean energy, and climate research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects.
DOE’s SBIR and STTR awards strive to transform DOE-supported science and technology breakthroughs into viable products and services. Small businesses that demonstrated technical feasibility for innovations during their Phase I grants were eligible to compete for funding to develop prototypes or processes during Phase II.
Iris Light Technologies, Inc. (STTR with Argonne National Laboratory) Chicago, IL
Energy-efficient data centers and high-performance computing enabled by opto-electronically active devices
In Phase I, Iris Light Technologies, Inc. demonstrated printed semiconductor inks and on-chip printed photodetectors, highlighting the ability to create opto-electronically active devices. Phase II will take the improved inks, optimize the process for manufacturing these materials, and make long-lasting, passivated, laser products that emit at 1310 nm, the most commonly used optical wavelength in data center communications.
Lookin, Inc. (SBIR) Los Angeles, CA
High-Throughput Terahertz Scanning for Quality Assessment of Battery Electrode Manufacturing
Lookin, Inc. will use project funding to develop novel terahertz radiation imaging systems to identify critical defects and damages in battery materials during the manufacturing process. This will be accomplished through integrating arrays of detector technology and plasmonic terahertz sources for improved image quality and using artificial intelligence/machine learning for faster defect detection.
Advent Diamond, Inc. (SBIR) Scottsdale, AZ
Advanced Manufacturing of Low Ron Diamond-based Power Transistors
Advent Diamond is developing materials and manufacturing processes to commercialize all-diamond power transistors. These are expected to be the first to market components based on semiconducting diamond. The high-temperature compatibility of diamond power systems could unlock a range of other energy advancements, from a gas station-like electric vehicle charging experience to electric aircraft.
Guill Tool & Engineering (SBIR) West Warwick, RI
Next Generation Microlayer Annular Co-Extrusion
Annual extruded plastics are in everything from fuel lines, hoses, pipes, and wires, to catheters, medical tubing, and stents. Microlayering annual co-extruded products can revolutionize their performance and form factor resulting in lower energy and material usage. Phase II research will accelerate the adoption of this technology by developing a toolset and using it to demonstrate microlayering benefits in annular extrusions.
For more information about DOE’s SBIR and STTR programs, and the projects announced today, visit the Office of Science’s SBIR and STTR website. To learn more about DOE’s important work in materials and manufacturing innovation, visit the AMMTO homepage.