PowerBridge Announced its Proof-of Concept Cycle 2 Awardees. Long Island’s Stony Brook University (SBU) one of the awardees in collaboration with Dynamic Suppliers Alignment (DSA) Inc., and Dr. Corrinne Graham , Board Member of Long Island Advancement of Small Business (LIASB) and President Graham International Consulting and Research, Inc.
CORAM, NY — March, 2015 — Stony Brook, NY: A collaboration of Stony Brook University’s (SBU) Chemical and Molecular Engineering Program, the SUNY Research Foundation (SUNY RF) and Technology Commercialization agent Dynamic Supplier Alignment, Inc.(DSA) of Selden, NY has secured a $150,000 Proof-of Concept” grant from NYSERDA funded PowerBrigde, N.Y. to validate and commercialize the application of Gold (Au) Nanoparticles to increase the power output of Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEA) used in facilitating the gas exchange that powers PEM Fuel Cells.
The funding is for technology transfer of a specific energy technology that has already been fully developed in the laboratory and is ready for scale up and marketing.
The PowerBridge, NY grant is administered by Columbia University for encouraging partnerships between NY State Industry and inventors from NY state universities (public and private) leading to economic development of sustainable energy industries in New York State.
The competition for this grant was very intense, since in addition to money, the grant also puts the “winners” in contact with very powerful “angel” investors and advisors. The time table for this grant is one year and is designed to move quickly.
The Technology
The technology is the result of research conducted by teams of SBU Doctoral Students, undergraduates, and even high school students, under the supervision of Prof. Miriam Rafailovich (AEC), in collaboration with Prof. Dilip Gersappe (SBU, Institute for Advanced Computational Science) and Dr. Ping Liu (Brookhaven National Laboratory) and funded by the National Science Foundation.
The basis for this technology is the fact that hydrogen/air powered PEM fuel cells operating under ambient conditions and utilizing platinum catalyst to generate hydrogen ions, are not performing to their full potential. Atmospheric CO2 drawn in with operating air at the cathode converts to power robbing CO due to reverse water gas shift reaction. The catalytic nanoparticles of this invention oxidize the CO at the platinum/membrane interface as it’s formed, increasing the power output by more than 40% .
“The addition of gold will not increase the cost of “noble metals” in the MEA significantly. Increasing cell power density reduces cell stack cost by reducing membrane and bipolar plate material required, potentially delivering a 37% decrease in cost/kW for a fuel cell of equal power,” says Wayne Gutschow, Vice President of Engineering for Nextek Power System and the team’s Engineering lead. “
Furthermore, since the enhancement increases only the current density, these cells provide equivalent power at lower voltages—making them safer to operate.
Additional applications address the requirement for PEM fuel cells to operate on pure hydrogen which is expensive to make and store. A fuel cell utilizing the proposed invention will tolerate up to 25% CO2 (and subsequent CO creation) in its fuel source opening up the opportunity for less expensive sources of hydrogen to be used.
The road to commercialization began in December 2014, when Dynamic Supplier Alignment, Inc. (DSA) and The Research Foundation for the State University of New York executed an exclusive option agreement to an exclusive commercial license for United States Patents covering “Gold Nanoparticle Enhancement for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell ” and “Synthesis and Incorporation of Graphene and/or Metallized or Metal Oxide-Modified Graphene to Improve Organic Solar Cells and Hydrogen Fuel Cells.”
The collaborators plan to form a New York State company under the Start-up New York Program that will produce and/or license the proprietary technology and accelerate it to market. R&D will continue targeting portfolio expansion and exploring opportunities to insert IP into fielded platforms reducing cost and providing a competitive advantage when compared to conventional technology.
Collaborator Profiles
PowerBridgeNY
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority recently awarded three separate $5 million grants to educational institutions in New York State to create clean energy proof-of-concept centers (POCCs). PowerBridgeNY is the result of the collaboration of two of the awardee teams. One POCC led by Columbia University includes Brookhaven National Laboratory, Stony Brook University, and Cornell NYC Tech, the other POCC is led by the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering and includes City University of New York. These two POCCs have decided to work together to create PowerBridgeNY. As a joint center, PowerBridgeNY is better positioned to provide more support for all aspects of technical validation and company formation for early-stage clean energy technologies. In addition, the Center will be able to foster a more robust ecosystem around the clean energy sector in downstate New York. http://www.powerbridgeny.com/
SUNY Stony Brook University (SBU), Chemical and Molecular Engineering Program
The SBU Chemical and Molecular Engineering Program prepare students to assume positions in industry and/or research institutions that require knowledge of chemical engineering at the molecular level. Students learn and demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills needed to become dedicated, ethical professionals capable of meeting the constantly emerging needs of the engineering profession, with special focus on incorporation of new nanotechnologies. http://www.stonybrook.edu/cme/docs/cme%20brochure.pdf
Advanced Energy Center
The Advanced Energy Center (AEC) is located in the Research & Development Park at Stony Brook University and is a true partnership of academic institutions, research institutions, energy providers and industrial corporations. The Center’s mission is innovative energy research, education and technology deployment with a focus on efficiency, conservation, renewable energy and nanotechnology applications for new and novel sources of energy. http://www.aertc.org/
Dynamic Supplier Alignment, Inc. (DSA)
DSA, Inc. is a technology transfer and commercialization agent providing early stage product or service development and infrastructure needed to capitalize on their full market potential. The DSA℠ Business Development Ecosystem Model was created to foster public, private collaboration designed to accelerate the commercialization of products and services and build regional supply chain network aligned to supply the emerging foreign and domestic market demands for clean and sustainability technology and processes.
http://www.dynamicsupplieralignment.com/
State University of New York Research Foundation
The RF manages SUNY’s research portfolio. RF administrators help SUNY faculty, students and staff through every step of the research grant process, allowing them to focus on their work and ensuring compliance with university, grant sponsor and government requirements.
The RF protects SUNY’s intellectual property. SUNY ranks among the nation’s top patent-producing universities. The RF connects business and industry to SUNY faculty to commercialize their inventions for the public good.
The RF makes strategic investments to maximize the collective impact of SUNY research to drive investment and job growth. SUNY’s Networks of Excellence assemble scientists and scholars from all campuses to collaborate on research projects in areas ranging from advanced manufacturing and energy to health and the humanities.
The RF is an integral partner in the execution and administration of the START-UP NY initiative to transform SUNY campuses and university communities across the state into tax-free communities for new and expanding businesses. http://www.rfsuny.org/
Dr. Graham and Graham International Consulting and Research Inc. Dr. Corrinne Graham, President of Graham International Consulting and Research Inc. a board member of the LIASB and Committee Chair for the Women Business Group, is the team’s Economic and Financial Analyst and Advisor.
Graham International Consulting and Research Inc. (GICaR) is a management consulting company of business advisors who are partners to CEOs and business owners to help organizations and business owners become more profitable by offering research and growth strategies to transform vision and guide profitability. The company brings together a complementary set of professional expertise primarily encompassing strategic planning and analysis, communications and public relations, human resources management, conservation and sustainability, finance and accounting, and marketing.
GICaR is composed of a dynamic team of forward-thinking consultants and researchers. What makes them unique is their global and diverse doctorates and depth of business experience in more than 12 industries in the USA – as well as several International agencies such as The United Nations (UN), The Word Bank, and The Consortium for Small Islands. The team performs research and feasibility studies using the CDP Model, which allows businesses and government entities the ability to examine economic variables that may be adverse to financial and economic growth. For more information, Visit http://grahamconsultingandresearch.com