the challenges in commercializing nanomaterials

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The Challenges in Commercializing Nanomaterials

Keith Blakelykblakely@nanodynamics.com

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Contents

Technology exploitation – and lessons learned Nanotechnology as a toolkit Nearer-term opportunities in nanotechnology

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Technology Exploitation…and lessons learned

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“The Valley of Death”The inventor•I have made a prototype•It has really interesting properties•There is a potential market for it

The customer•I want a characterized andeconomic product that fits myprocess, and is produced usinga characterized and scalable process

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Past Technology Booms

Inventions usually in corporate labs or universities Bandwagon of companies jumping on the trend

“Plastics, my boy” (The Graduate) 1960’s Structural ceramics (1970’s-1980’s) Optoelectronics (late 1990’s) Nanotechnology (2000’s)

Boom and bust Consolidation Survivors develop mature profitable businesses

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Structural Ceramics Kent Bowen (MIT) and others – microstructure control is critical

and can allow you to develop great properties Major hype on ceramics use in everything from turbochargers to

kitchen knives Boom, bust, consolidation Why were expectations not met?

Product designs didn’t stand still and wait for the materials to mature The ceramic turbocharger was sidestepped by multiple valves per

cylinder, variable valve timing etc. High strength metals, plastics, and composites competed

Many applications weren’t cost-effective – kitchen knives? Engineers and designers weren’t comfortable with brittle

materials in many applications Still a good business in wear parts, refractories, bearings, armor,

semiconductor equipment, microelectronics…

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Lessons

Your team is critical – creativity balanced by experience (it’s not just the science that matters)

Avoid a one-trick pony – look for a technology or market platform with flexibility and real sustainable market pull

The existing technology won’t stand still Manage your development and execute carefully Manage your product portfolio and bear in mind the

time to commercialize Manage your supply chain to be the low cost

supplier

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Nanotechnology as a Toolkit

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Will Nanotechnology be the Same Boom and Bust Story?

Time will tell! There are similarities and differences

Market pull from electronics / medicine / defense / energy Huge diversity of processes

Chemical Physical Biological

Huge diversity of products Particulate Nanostructured materials Composites Coatings

Too much money chasing opportunities

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How can nanotechnology help?It allows us to develop:

Uniform particles Reactive particles Unusual properties Nano-structured materials (tubes

, balls, hooks, layers, surfaces) Directed assembly and other

novel processes

It is a “toolkit” to allow us to make improved products

The technology behind the improvements will usually be invisible to the consumer(tires, tennis balls, sunscreen, car wax, ski wax, golf balls…..)

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Crossover in technologies and markets is real – NanoDynamics products and markets

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Nearer-term Commercial Opportunities

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Application industries

Automotive Chemical Engineering Electronics Construction Medicine

Textiles Energy Cosmetics Food and drinks Household Sporting goods

(VDI Technologiezentrum EC Report)

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Electronics

MLCC electrode materials and dielectrics 50 – 300 nm Ni and BaTi

O3 New Pd-Ag systems will

revive precious metal electrode systems

Embedded Capacitors Use of nanomaterials to

increase effective KClarkson University / NanoDynamics

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Coatings and adhesives

ITO Electrically conductive

properties from sputtered systems for highest electrical conductivity

IR absorbing coating systems using suspended nanoparticles

Transparent conducting adhesives with <10% ITO

MMP/NanoDynamics

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Nanotech in Energy

Solar Cells

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Solid oxide fuel cell•Fuel flexibility•Rapid start•High efficiency•Cost-effective

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Nanotech in Consumer Products

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Nanotech in Consumer Products

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Nanotech in Defense & Homeland Security

Advanced armor and munitions

Biological and chemical sensors

Adaptive camouflage

“Smart skin” Portable power

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So Why Isn’t Everyone Getting Rich? Application potential is huge; current

consumption is not Design engineers aren’t aware of products,

properties, suppliers, standards, or risks Manufacturers haven’t reached critical mass

or come down the cost curve adequately yet Lots of discussion and dialogue between

material producers and end users is still needed

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Our Strategic Approach Select a limited number of value-added or

end-use products to manufacture that incorporate nanomaterials

Demonstrate the value proposition to the market place and promote it

Expand the interest and application into other industries, products, and markets

Acquire conventional product lines and integrate nanomaterials to create new products and opportunities

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Summary

New materials have historically been challenging to commercialize 15 – 20 years on average from discovery to first

commercial use Nanotechnology has all the necessary

components of a “bubble” Finding products that can use the advantages

of nanomaterials today is critical