Small Businesses Receive AMMTO Funding To Advance Innovative Manufacturing and Material Technologies

Tiptek, LLC, West Chester, Pennsylvania (STTR)

Tiptek’s innovation enables atomically precise manufacturing of low-defect qubits (atomically precise quantum hardware) for quantum computing. Quantum computers promise to carry out calculations with quantum bits (called qubits) that use less than one thousandth the energy of today’s computers for quantum calculations of atomic structure. This project will overcome one of the key challenges of how to make this technology reliably and reproducibly by enabling the atomic precision and self-sharpening of the tips used for manufacturing the qubits. Meanwhile it also supports U.S. competitiveness by improving tips for research and quality control in today’s nonquantum semiconductor industry.  

Zyvex Labs, Richardson, Texas (SBIR)

Zyvex Labs’ innovation enables the scale-up of atomically precise qubit manufacturing from current two-dimensional architecture to the three-dimensional architectures needed to make low-defect quantum circuits for quantum computing. If large-scale quantum computers can be successfully developed, they will allow quantum calculations to be made using less energy by a factor of more than 1,000 compared to what is currently possible.

Vuronyx Technologies, Arlington, Massachusetts (SBIR)

Vuronyx Technologies will develop cost-effective approaches to manufacture high-purity MAX powders. This innovation will improve manufacturing for a new class of materials that can withstand extremely harsh service conditions needed for energy applications including components for industrial, wind energy, solar power, and nuclear power industries. By improving the purity, size, and sphericity of the powder particles that are the feedstock for certain types of MAX materials, this project will improve metal powder manufacturing processes in America by streamlining a key step to their commercialization.

NanoSonic, Inc., Pembroke, Virginia (SBIR)

NanoSonic will develop an alternative procedure for the synthesis of at least four unique MAX phase powders based on molten-salt-shielded synthesis (using a molten salt bath, rather than expensive inert gas, to provide a protective environment during the synthesis process). NanoSonic will demonstrate scalability by optimizing large-scale reactions to produce high-purity material for at least two unique MAX phases and continue to reduce synthesis cost through use of recycled feedstock material. Because these structures could be used in key parts of the solar, wind, and nuclear power industries, scaling America’s ability to manufacture these materials is imperative to the nation’s transition to a clean energy economy.

Eskra Technical Products, Inc., Saukville, Wisconsin (SBIR)

Eskra’s battery manufacturing technology enables fabrication of microbatteries in irregular and conformal shapes. Expanding the number of reliable microscale manufacturing processes is critical to AMMTO’s goal to develop platform manufacturing technologies. This project will improve safety and functioning of sensors in general and vehicles in particular and is in alignment with AMMTO’s work to improve U.S. competitiveness in battery manufacturing.

Storagenergy Technologies, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah (SBIR)

Although lithium metal is used extensively throughout various industries because of its distinctive properties, current processes of lithium metal production consume substantial amounts of electric energy and create toxic chlorine gas emissions. Storagenergy’s innovative technology for scalable electroextraction of lithium metal production is eco-friendly, saves energy, operates at a high rate, and minimizes waste generation.

Chemelectronics LLC, Los Angeles, California (SBIR)

Chemelectronics process is a major innovation in the manufacturing of lithium metal for batteries. It uses a low-temperature hydrogen plasma reduction and thermal decomposition of lithium hydride to greatly increase efficiency of lithium metal production. This innovation will yield high energy efficiency at a low cost. It also does not generate carbon emission or toxic byproducts.