NASA SBIR 2015 Solicitation

SMALL BUSINESS CONCERN (Firm Name, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Nanohmics, Inc.
6201 East Oltorf Street, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78741 - 7509
(512) 389-9990

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR/PROJECT MANAGER (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Dr. Steve Savoy
ssavoy@nanohmics.com
6201 East Oltorf Street, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78741 - 7509
(512) 389-9990

CORPORATE/BUSINESS OFFICIAL (Name, E-mail, Mail Address, City/State/Zip, Phone)
Dr. Steve Savoy
ssavoy@nanohmics.com
6201 East Oltorf Street, Suite 400
Austin, TX 78741 - 7509
(512) 389-9990

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

Technology Available (TAV) Subtopics
Solid-State Thermal-to-Electric Power Generation is a Technology Available (TAV) subtopic that includes NASA Intellectual Property (IP). Do you plan to use the NASA IP under the award?
No

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (Limit 2000 characters, approximately 200 words)
In space exploration missions where photovoltaic power generation is inadequate due to a lack of sunlight, and for missions with moderate power draw and increased mobility requirements, thermal-to-electric power generator systems using radioisotopes as heat sources provides NASA with a viable solution. Nanohmics Inc. proposes to develop a novel high efficiency thermionic thermal-to-electric converter (TTEC) using nanostructured emitters for integration with radioisotope thermoelectric generators application. The emitter material employed in the proposed TTEC device allows the device to be operated in harsh and high temperature environment.

POTENTIAL NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
The successful development of high efficiency thermionic power generators will improve energy conversion efficiency, specific power, and life time of RTGs power supply system, which will benefit to the W-MW power supply systems for NASA deep space exploration. They can be also integrated with nuclear power system to convert nuclear energy to electricity for space applications.

POTENTIAL NON-NASA COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS (Limit 1500 characters, approximately 150 words)
Several commercial opportunities are opened-up with high efficiency thermionic power generator, that including concentrating solar power generator system and waste heat harvesting system. The technique of nanostructured emitter with low effective work function can be applied in electron emission devices such as field emission displays and vacuum microelectronic devices.