aerogel-like materials Example: Drying a surface

1
Evolution of NanoPorous Materials from an NSF
IUCRC project to the Real World

• Douglas M. SmithNanoPore Incorporated2501 Alamo
  SE Albuquerque, NM 87106
• Smith_at_NanoPore.com

2
What is NanoPore?

• 84 issued patents and gt50 pending applications in
  porous materials since 1994.
• RD production in Albuquerque. RD in
  Sunnyvale, CA. Sales distribution in the UK.
• Three main commercial businesses
• Bulk nanoporous silica for advanced thermal
  insulation.
• Nanoporous silica (NanoglassTM) for low K
  dielectrics.
• NanoCoolTM on-demand adsorption cooling
• Nanoporous, very high capacity desiccants
  developed
• Being commercialized for controlled temperature
  packaging and microclimate (military, HAZMAT,
  etc.) cooling.

NanoglassTM is a registered trademark of
Nanoglass LLC NanoCoolTM is a registered
trademark of NanoPore Incorporated
3
IUCRC-initiated technology

• Observation that by controlling the internal
  surface chemistry of nanoporous materials before
  drying, shrinkage could be reversed via
  springback
• In theory, this would enable the low-cost
  production of low-density, aerogel-like
  materials
• Example Drying a surface modified silica gel rod
  (note in compacted state, volume is only 35 of
  uncompacted)

25 mm
Wet Wet Dry
4
NanoPore time-line

• 1992 Center researchers develop low density,
  nanoporous material synthesis, patent filed
• 1994 NanoPore formed, focus on bulk and thin
  film synthesis
• 1995 NIST/ATP award to TI/NanoPore for low k
  dielectrics
• 1996 University patent issues (5,565,142),
  Nanoglass LLC formed as a 50/50 JV with
  AlliedSignal for low k
• 1998 Cabot purchases Hoechst and NanoPore
  process technology, NanoPore starts commercial
  thermal insulation production
• 1999 Honeywell purchases NanoPores stake in
  Nanoglass LLC
• 2001 Cool Logistics UK formed to commercialize
  thermal insulation/cooling for controlled
  temperature packaging
• 2003 NanoCool LLC formed as 3-way joint venture
  with NanoPore, Cool Logistics and Mead Westvaco

5
NanoPorous Silica (NanogelTM)

• NanoPore worked with both Hoechst AG and the
  Cabot Corporation to develop a practical process
  scheme for ambient pressure, springback
• NanoPore demonstrated the first continuous
  (rather than batch) process
• Applications in thermal insulation, silicone
  reinforcement and flatting of paints
• NanogelTM yields 30 improvement in thermal
  insulation performance over foams and is
  translucent
• Cabot purchased NanoPores and Hoechsts rights
  and has built a semi-works plant in Frankfurt

NanogelTM is a trademark of the Cabot Corporation
6
NanoPore Thermal Insulation Business

• 7x improvement with mild vacuum over conventional
  insulation. 93 porous, 30-50 nanometer pores
• NanoPore produces products for
• Controlled temperature shipping
• Fuel cells
• Microelectronics, electronics, optics
• Aerospace
• Pipelines
• Appliances
• High temperature (exhaust, piping, etc.)

Vacuum packed insulation
7
Examples

• Hot water heaters
• Energy reduction (storage) with better insulation
• 2 Fiberglass blanket31
• 1/4 NanoPore VIP46
• Replace 1 of PU with 1 NanoPore VIP74
• Example IR image of ¼ VIP in long-term testing

• Exhaust for the AAAV
• Reduced IR signature
• 650 oC exhaust

250 mm
8
NanoglassTM Low k Dielectrics

• IUCRC role Brought together Texas Instruments
  (the need and applications knowledge) with
  NanoPore (the solution)
• Need driven by shrinking dimensions and higher
  speeds in semiconductors. Market projected to be
  gt500 million by 2008
• Over 50 patents issued. University patent not
  relevant!
• Honeywell purchased NanoPores interest in
  Nanoglass LLC
• NanoPore continues to provide RD, technical
  support and retains non-microelectronics IP
• NanoPore produces two key raw
  materials in ultrahigh purity

600 nm thick NanoglassTM film with 1-2 nanometer
pores
NanoglassTM is a trademark of Nanoglass LLC
9
NanoPorous Desiccants

• Conventional Desiccants
• Pore volumes are 0.2 to 0.5 cm3/g which limits
  capacity. Pores lt 2 nm to enable adsorption at
  low humidity.
• NanoPorous Desiccants
• High pore volumes (1-3 cm3/g) to enhance sorption
  capacity. Requires pores with size of 2-5 nm.
• Use in On-demand Adsorption Cooling
• Principle Waters heat of vaporization is 7x
  the heat of fusion (ice).
• Being commercialized with collaborative tools
  learned in IUCRC (i.e. method, not technology)

10
Applications for On-demand cooling

• Short-term
• Controlled temperature packaging
• Single-use box coolers to replace gel packs and
  dry ice
• Market is hundreds of millions of units with
  value of 5-30/unit
• Beverages
• In can, bottle and juice pouch
• Market is billions of units with value of
  lt0.50/unit
• Personal cooling
• Cooling of soldiers, rescue workers, athletes,
  etc.
• Market is lt1 million units and the value varies
  but is high
• Longer-term
• Peak load cooling of cars and buildings
• Advanced consumer packaging

11
Typical Performance of a NanoCoolTM system
Simply actuated by pressing button
12
A logistics comparison

• Conventional EPS/gel pack technology
• Order in gel packs 48 hr before shipment
• High shipping costs of raw materials
• Inventory large volumes
• Freeze gel for48 hr.
• Freezer space and energy
• Pack and ship
• High shipping costs
• End-user disposal
• Difficult because of large volume/low value

• NanoCoolTM-based packaging
• Order in cooler
• Pack, actuate and ship
• Reduced shipping costs
• End-user disposal
• Costs are lower since volume is low and higher
  value
• Recycle

13
Beverage cooling

• Cooling of 315 ml using a self-contained
  adsorption cooler. 200-250 W for 2-3 min.
• Cooling flux gt7,000 W/m2
• Automatic, depressurization-driven valve
  developed
• Pilot line for 100 devices/min has been designed

14
Micro-climate Cooling

• Market Rescue workers, firemen, soldiers,
  steelworkers, etc.
• Design goals
• 180 W cooling, 1 hr duration
• On demand, variable cooling
• Small form factor
• Light weight
• Heat rejected to ambient air
• Integrated with liquid circulation, cooling
  garment

15
What the University/Center did right and wrong

• Wrong
• Horrible patent. No IP search, no knowledge of
  the patent space, short-term focus on generating
  a patent rather than a viable patent.
• Focused only on Center membership as a means to
  benefit
• Did not generate any political value out of
  spin-off successes

• Right
• Supported quickly filing a patent
• Executed a IP contract which ensured there were
  no IP conflicts (in exchange for )
• Agreed not to take an equity stake
• Realized the main benefit was job creation