UCF Nanotech Spinout Developing Revolutionary Battery Technology: Power the Next Generation of Electronics with Carbon

A 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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2014-07-24

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.

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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."

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.

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.

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.

"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."

"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."

HyCarb, Inc. plans to continue working closely with the UCF NanoScience Technology Center, employing students and graduates with expertise in nanotechnology.

Source: Nanotechnology Now

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