3D Electrochemical Manufacturing and Sensing (3DEMS)

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY 3D Electrochemical Manufacturing and Sensing (3DEMS) 3DEMS is a potentially disruptive advanced manufacturing technique with unique versatility and wide-ranging applications and is a low-cost process. Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize 3DEMS. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses and ultimately an improved way of life for the American people. Overview: Advanced manufacturing has the potential to strengthen the US economy and national security, produce high income jobs, and generate technological innovation – driving long-term economic prosperity and growth. Additive manufacturing has very real limits to its performance and without additional innovation and development will not come close to many of the premature announcements concerning its possible future. One major barrier to the transition from prototyping to manufacturing is the very slow print rate. This obstacle alone could eliminate additive manufacturing from serious consideration for most parts that are manufactured today. Description: This technology is a unique three-dimensional electrochemical manufacturing and sensing (3DEMS) technology for primary advanced materials manufacturing application. The 3DEMS integrates the use of computer-aided 3D manipulation, robotics, green-chemistry process, online sensing, and advanced design. The 3DEMS can be operated in a (1) manufacturing mode through electro-deposition, (2) machining mode through electro-dissolution or etching, or (3) sensing mode through an electrochemical sensor. It not only enables the fabrication of components with complicated shape and varying dimension but also the controls of their chemical form, composition, and microstructures at different scales (from atomic to macro). 3DEMS allows the performance of the manufacturing under relatively milder conditions, compared to traditional technologies. The 3DEMS is also a potential sensing technology for the online monitoring of manufacturing processes and remote detection of hazardous contaminants and can be used to fabricate advanced sensors. The 3DEMS is potentially scalable for mass production and can be minimized for nano-to-micro/macro machining. It will also provide a worker-friendly environment with a considerable reduction in noise, pollution and wastes as its operation is driven by electrons. Benefits: Enables manufacturing of components and devices based on the deposition of functional materials from appropriate precursors. Helps machine components through electro-dissolution driven by electrons and/or a chemical reaction, that can be induced by an in-situ generated etchant. Significant potential to fabricate new fuel components that have not been possible to date. Improves the quality and predictability of fuel components. Reduces contamination and waste. Reduces cost. Applications: Manufacturing of primary advanced materials and sensors. Sensing for online monitoring of manufacturing process. Remote detection of hazardous contaminants Development Status: TRL 2. This is an early stage technology in need of further testing. IP Status: US Patent Application No. 17/309,577, “Three-Dimensional Electrochemical Manufacturing and Sensing System and Related methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1041 PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US19/65399, “Three-Dimensional Electrochemical Manufacturing and Sensing System and Related methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-1041 INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities. Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at [email protected].