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April 14, 2010 – Researchers from Berkeley Lab have developed a material dubbed "molecular paper," with properties that can be precisely tailored for applications such as chemical and biological detection.

2D "sheet-like" nanostructures are used in biological systems (e.g. membranes), with properties that have inspired further work in areas such as graphene. Ron Zuckermann and Ki Tae Nam with Berkeley Lab’s Molecular Foundry have created what they say is the largest-to-date 2D polymer crystal that spontaneously self-assembles in water, combining the structural complexity of biological systems with a durable architecture needed for membranes, or for integration into functional devices. The sheets — 2-molecules thick and hundreds of sq. molecules in area — are made of peptoids that can flex and fold like proteins.

Unlike a typical polymer, each "building block" of the nanosheet has what the researchers call "structural marching orders," suggesting its properties can be tailored to be application-specific — e.g., to control the flow of molecules, or serve as the platform for chemical and biological detection. The building blocks for peptoid polymers are also "cheap, readily available," and generate high yields, another advantage over other synthesis techniques.

"Our findings bridge the gap between natural biopolymers and their synthetic counterparts, which is a fundamental problem in nanoscience," stated Ronald Zuckermann, director of the biological nanostructures facility at Berkeley Labs’ Molecular Foundry. "We can now translate fundamental sequence information from proteins to a non-natural polymer, which results in a robust synthetic nanomaterial with an atomically-defined structure."

"The scientific possibilities that come with this achievement challenge our imagination, and will also help move electron microscopy toward direct imaging of soft materials," added paper coauthor Christian Kisielowski from the National Center for Electron Microscopy (NCEM). The group also achieved another landmark by observing individual polymer chains within the peptoid material, confirming the chains’ ordering into sheets and stability during imaging.

Their work has been published in Nature Materials.

April 14, 2010 – Swedish scientists have developed a method to study genetic variation in individual cells and tissues, offering new insights into gene expression that could greatly improve diagnostic tests.

According to a new study from Uppsala U. published in Nature Methods, existing assays used in testing for genotoxic chemicals (they inhibit DNA repair and affect cancer risk) are not sensitive enough — molecules can escape detection, nor can it be positively determined which molecules came from which cells. New assays with single-molecule sensitivity are required, for example, in studying cancer tumors which are a jumble of both healthy and cancerous cells.

Working within two EU-funded projects — COMICS (‘Comet assay and cell array for fast and efficient genotoxicity testing’), to develop ways to test effects of chemicals on human genetic material without using animals, and READNA ("Revolutionary approaches and devices for nucleic acid analysis"), to revolutionize nucleic acid analysis methods — the researchers converted messenger RNA (mRNA) into a type of DNA molecule that can be detected by a type of fluorescent probes ("padlock probes"), enabling them to study DNA repair at the molecular level.

Results of typical assays represent an average number for many cells, within which signals of a small minority of cells can be drowned out. These "padlock probes," which lock onto DNA after hybridization, can amplify those signals, and thus enable detection and identification of just the mRNA levels in cells.

"Hitting the proverbial needle in the haystack should now be possible," stated Mats Nilsson of Uppsala U. "This should entail significantly more sensitive and precise diagnostic methods, improving the prospects that patients will receive the treatment they need."

by David Hwang and Jurron Bradley, Lux Research

April 12, 2010 – The impact of the recession that started in 2008 has been unavoidable in nearly every sector. While many industries have suffered, the financial crisis critically wounded two — construction and automotive. For example, the U.S. recorded 54% less new construction starts in April 2009 compared to April 2008, and saw 18% fewer automobile sales in 2008 relative to 2007. While these two sectors dominate news cycles, the electronics industry also lost steam in 2008. For example, shipments of electronic equipment fell worldwide in Q4 2008 relative to Q4 2007 — by 22% in Japan, 15% in China, 13% in Europe, and 3% in the US.

The output of these three sectors is large, accounting for 10% of the U.S. GDP in 2008 and 9% worldwide. And since these are big end markets for nanomaterials and their intermediates, disruptions within them ripple back up industry value chains for nanotechnology (Figure 1). The downturn impacts nanotech value chains via two separate but interacting mechanisms:

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Figure 1. Shocks to the output of nano-enabled products ripple back through value chain.

 

  • Shrinking addressable markets. When a large end-market like automotive contracts, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) suppliers like Bayer MaterialScience and Arkema have a smaller market for their materials at the opposite side of the value chain. For example, if 13.2 million vehicles were sold in the US in 2008 compared with 16.1 million in 2007, this would mean 18% less material sold if adoption of nanomaterials in the sector remained flat.
  • Protracting adoption cycles. However, adoption rates for new technologies don’t stay flat in downturns — they lengthen as cash-strapped companies and cautious managers avoid risk and defer game-changing innovation. When General Motor’s (GM) biggest issues are negotiating what portion of the company will be nationalized, you can bet with confidence that development projects like car dashboard MRAM chips — developed by companies like Everspin Technologies and enabled with ceramic-based nanoscale thin films — are the first to be killed, or at best delayed.

To understand how the current recession will impact the nanomaterials business, we updated our revenue model of the nanotechnology value chain. At the highest level, we found that the market for products touched by emerging nanotechnology totaled $254 billion in 2009 and will reach $2.5 trillion in 2015 — down 32% and 21%, respectively, compared to our previous forecast (Figure 2). Our projections find that:

  • The nano-enabled product impact varies by industry; auto’s worst, healthcare’s untouched. Although we see declines of some magnitude in virtually every industry in 2009, their depth and recovery time vary greatly — leading to widely different outcomes by 2015. In that year, we expect nano-enabled product revenue in materials and manufacturing to be down by 38% from our previous estimates, and in electronics by 14% — but for healthcare and life sciences to recover fully.
  • Two nanomaterials and two types of nanointermediates get the most blowback. Among materials, carbon nanotubes and ceramic nanoparticles get hurt most due to their outsized applicability in the automotive and construction sectors; the relative diversity of applications for ceramic nanoparticles, however, will enable them to recover more quickly. Among nanointermediates, nanocomposites and coatings will take the biggest hit; however, both should return near previously projected market sizes by 2015.

 

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Figure 2. Emerging nanotech revenue is predicted to reach $2.5 trillion in 2015.

Conclusion

The recession will come to an end, but its impact won’t. Because of long replacement cycles and lengthy design-in times in automotive and construction, players across the nanotech value chain will be feeling the aftershocks well into the next decade. Corporations should co-opt the situation by investing to outrun rivals and exploiting cash-strapped start-ups for all they can. Start-ups, on the other hand, face a stark choice: get to cash-flow positive or go bust. Governments that have poured money into nanotech initiatives for economic development must wield creative incentive mechanisms, like R&D grants in lieu of tax credits for start-ups, to keep from losing their anticipated payback in jobs and GDP growth.

Biography

David Hwang received a BSE in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and is research associate at Lux Research Inc., e-mail [email protected].

Jurron Bradley received his BE from Vanderbilt U., and his PhD from Georgia Institute of Technology. He is a senior analyst at Lux Research, 75 9th Avenue, Floor 3, Suite F, New York, NY, 10011 USA; ph.: 917-484-4865; e-mail [email protected].

April 9, 2010- A group of eight global companies, supported by local research and government, have formed a consortium to facilitate and grow Singapore’s expertise in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).

The efforts, supported by the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) research arm of Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), aims to establish a technology platform with several goals:

  • standardize MEMS design, process, and packaging for multiple applications — e.g., post-CMOS surface micromachining, bulk micro-machined silicon-on-insulator [SOI], and hermetic sealing and wafer-level packaging;
  • develop technical expertise and know-how to facilitate MEMS development, prototyping and manufacturing in Singapore;
  • promote collaboration among companies for an integrated solution for MEMS manufacturing; and
  • create a skilled workforce in MEMS related technology.

A*STAR’s contributions to the consortium’s work will be offering its R&D expertise in relevant areas, from design, fabrication, packaging, and system-level integration of MEMS sensors and actuators. As an example, high-resolution X-ray diffraction and AFM capabilities at A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) will be used to explore thin-film aluminium nitride (AlN) materials in piezoelectric transducers to enable MEMS devices with higher bandwidths and reduced energy loss," according to IMRE executive director Lim Khiang Wee.

Local companies represent a significant part of Singapore’s manufacturing sector and support the bigger multinational corporations, so it’s important to support those SMEs by helping them upgrade capabilities and keep up with technical advancements, added Lim Chuan Poh, A*STAR chairman. "The MEMS Consortium is an excellent way for our local enterprises to be linked up with the MNCs as part of an industry cluster approach to develop research and innovation activities in a synergistic way," and also will help "cultivate a strong local supplier base that will not only be competitive in Singapore but in the region and beyond."

"Through the MEMS Consortium, we are able to bring MNCs and local SMEs together on the same technology platform to facilitate interaction and foster research collaboration," added prof. Dim-Lee Kwong, executive director of IME.

Consortium members collectively span a wide range of capabilities in MEMS: R&D, wafer fabrication and integrated device manufacturing (IDM), assembly/test, design, and equipment materials. Members include Coventor, EPCOS, GlobalFoundries, Intellisense Software, NEC SCHOTT Components, Seiko Instruments, Systems on Silicon Manufacturing (SSMC), and Tango Systems.

April 7, 2010 – Louisiana Tech U. has named Randal E Null as director of its Institute for Micromanufacturing (IfM) facility in Ruston, LA.

Null has a broad range of management experience in manufacturing, information systems, and systems engineering for both private and public sectors (in the US and overseas), overseeing workforces ranging from 150-50,000 and annual budgets of $150M-$3B. His background includes defense/security for government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration (the latter as a security systems consultant after 9-11). On the technology side, he also has held executive positions at several semiconductor companies, including 12 years at Intel related to M&A work.

"The diversity and interdisciplinary nature of Dr. Null’s education, training, and experience is extremely attractive to us," noted Stan Napper, dean of Louisiana Tech’s College of Engineering and Science, in a statement. "With Dr. Null at the helm of the Institute for Micromanufacturing, we expect this culture to flourish and expand in new directions."

In addition to his directorship of IfM, Null — himself a LA Tech alum — will also serve as a professor of biomedical engineering. He has held dual post-doctoral appointments in anesthesiology and biomedical engineering with the U. of Virginia, prior to joining Texas Instruments.

Created in 1991 originally with an emphasis on micromanufacturing, the IfM has widened its scope to offer a range of microtechnology capabilities (micro/nanofabrication, measurement/characterization, and biotech research) in several research thrust areas: nanotechnology, biotechnology and biomedical nanotechnology (e.g. bioMEMS), environmental technology ("EnviroMEMS"), and information technology, which supports the State’s efforts including realizing micro/nanotech for information sensing, storage, and processing. The IfM has over 25 faculty and postdoctoral scholars and over 100 students specializing in a wide range of science and engineering fields.

by David Hwang and Jurron Bradley, Lux Research

April 1, 2010 – Since pioneers Showa Denko and Hyperion Catalysis first started producing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) in 1983, dozens of companies have entered the fray, looking to claim a share of a potentially massive market. However, market adoption has taken much longer than many expected, ultimately driving companies without proper financial backing into the red. Despite the gloom, MWNT suppliers aren’t an endangered species, as more than 35 commercial suppliers are still active.

Across the industry, producers are increasing capacity with hopes of lower costs and greater market adoption. The ongoing game of one-upsmanship is pushing market leaders to increase their capacities by more than four-fold in order to prevent becoming priced out of the market by their competitors. In 2008, global MWNT production capacity totaled just 423 tons, but today it weighs-in at 1,334 tons, a whopping 215% increase. Moreover, once current capacity expansions are completed (likely in 2010 and 2011), total capacity will swell to 2,389, a 416% increase over 2008 levels. Note that some plans to scale-up are confidential and thus are not included in the table below.

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Figure 1. Key MWNT suppliers. (CCVD = catalytic chemical vapor deposition; SME = small or medium-sized enterprise)

Looking closer, production capacity is owned disproportionately by the largest five suppliers: Showa Denko, CNano Technology, Arkema, Nanocyl, and Bayer MaterialScience. CNano Technology completed construction of its 500 ton production facility in June 2009, and Showa Denko finished building a 400-ton plant in March 2010, bringing its total up to 500 tons as well, making them the two largest suppliers. The other three suppliers — Arkema, Nanocyl, and Bayer MaterialScience — are scheduled to bring multi-hundred-ton facilities online in late 2010 and early 2011. Together, the five largest suppliers operated 54% of the world’s total production capacity in 2008 — and after completing the planned scale-ups, they will operate over 86% of the global production capacity in 2011. The massive scale-up and resulting cost reduction will further cement their dominance over second- and third-tier suppliers, making it even harder for the smaller producers to compete.

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Figure 2. Announced MWNT production capacity.

Don’t fall for the hype, however — because the market isn’t expanding at the same rapid scale-up rate. In fact, with a few exceptions, average utilization of production capacity per company is likely in the low double-digit percent. Specifically, we estimate that producers sold only 124 tons of MWNT in 2008, meaning a 30% utilization of capacity globally. With the producers undergoing such massive scale-ups, the amount of idle capacity is set to expand even further in the near-term, as sales grew approximately 35% in 2009, but production capacity more than doubled. This oversupply situation will likely persist at least through 2015.

While the extra capacity will not equate to additional revenue immediately, it will help MWNT’s long-term prospects. For one, scale-up to date has driven prices down from the dollars/gram range to $100/kg today, and producers ultimately hope to achieve $50/kg. When MWNTs were dollars/gram, industries turned their backs — but now that the economics for using MWNTs are quickly becoming favorable (especially in composite applications) they’re showing a renewed sense of interest. Additionally, further price reductions will help MWNTs expand out of small-volume niche applications like fishing poles and into larger and more cost-sensitive markets like car body panels. More broadly, producers are pushing their products into the automotive, aerospace, electronics, wind power, and energy storage industries — all of which will to drive demand for the next decade.

Biographies

David Hwang received a BSE in Bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania and is research associate at Lux Research Inc., e-mail [email protected].

Jurron Bradley received his Ph.D in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is senior analyst at Lux Research Inc.

by Neha K. Choksi

March 31, 2010 – Displays are a hot topic, especially in the mobile consumer electronics industry. LCD displays are prevalent in today’s handheld devices, but their poor power efficiency and readability in bright light give incentive to uncover alternative approaches. Qualcomm senior engineer Rashmi Rao shared the company’s MEMS-based approach to displays at the IEEE Bay Area Nanotechnology Council meeting on March 16, 2010.
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Handheld devices are being used more and more during each day, which has large implications on the battery life of a device. Pike Research predicts that by 2014, 54% of cell phone battery life will be used toward displays. The current trend to address the issue has been to use heavier, thicker batteries, but Rao questions whether this is the true solution. Qualcomm’s mirasol display approaches the issue by trying to reduce the power consumption rather than increase battery size — an approach inspired by nature. Butterfly wings are made of millions of nanostructured etalons (two parallel reflecting surfaces). When light passes through the wing’s multilayered surface, it reflects multiple times, which leads to the intense, iridescent color for which butterfly wings are known.

Mimicking the butterfly, the company approaches a low-power display solution by creating a MEMS etalon device (see figure below). The top layer of this two-layer device is a partial reflector; the bottom layer is a total reflector. By defining the gap size between the two layers, the resulting reflected color can be specified. The bottom layer of the MEMS etalon is a moving membrane; thus the gap between layers can be modulated. The device operates as a bistable capacitive/electrostatic switch. The bright, open state is achieved by a low constant bias. By superimposing a short positive pulse, the movable bottom layer collapses for the "closed" state. The collapsed membrane results in an interference pattern of light that is not visible or "dark" to the viewer. This closed state is maintained until another pulse "un-writes" the device and the lower membrane moves back to its initial open state.

Because the device maintains its state unless pulsed, it is able to achieve lower power consumption than LCD and OLED display technologies that dominate the market today. Furthermore, Rao explains, the display is able to achieve a faster refresh rate and is also lighter than current displays. The device’s response time, on the order of microseconds, indicates that it is well suited for video applications. Also, color filters that reduce brightness in LCD technology are unnecessary for the MEMS-based display.

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Brightness is a key differentiator for this display in yet another way. Because the intensity of current display technology is limited by the illumination source, which cannot compete with the intensity of sunlight, LCD and backlight OLED displays are difficult to read in bright sunlight. But since the mirasol MEMS display depends on ambient light for its light source, it has an inherent mechanism for adjusting its brightness to its surrounding light intensity, lending itself to bright light conditions. In fact, the company claims excellent contrast: 90% reflected light in the open state vs. 1% in the dark state. Plus, by utilizing ambient light, the new product eliminates the need for backlight illumination and further reduces power consumption.

On the other hand, in darkened rooms or at night, the ambient light may be insufficient for these MEMS-based displays to reflect. Hence, is Qualcomm exploring the option of frontside illumination for low ambient light conditions. It is unclear what impact the frontside illumination will have on battery life, but the aim is to keep power usage well below current LCD and OLED technology.

When asked about reliability, Rao explains that a universal usage model is still < in the industry, thus complicating a metric for comparison to other devices. The company has conducted initial accelerated lifetime tests on the device in the operational temperature range, with and without humidity, but additional investigations are underway.

Despite work to be done, the new device has received significant attention — the display technology is targeted for the e-book market. Just as cell phones are demonstrating the intersection of technology with the Internet, cameras, gaming, TV/video, contacts, music, calendar, email, and more, Qualcomm’s MEMS displays have opportunities that can reach far beyond its initial entry point. But MEMS are just one of many approaches to next-generation mobile displays, and the company is not alone in pursuing a MEMS-based approach. As Rao states, "convergence is inevitable," and the company hopes to be on the front line as the push for energy efficiency continues.

Neha K. Choksi is an independent consultant based in Mountain View, CA. She has worked for a variety of MEMS companies including as director of product engineering at Silicon Microstructures and as independent consultant for SmallTech Consulting. E-mail: choksi [at] gmail.

March 26, 2010 – Ntera has debuted technology that can create interactive color-changing electronic displays on just about any type of printed product, at low cost and with minimal power requirements — a shot across the bow to LCD and other panel technologies.

The technology and process are likened to how certain treated mirrors darken in response to light. The company’s NanoChromics inks deploy an array of metal oxide semiconductor electrodes mounted on a flexible film, which can then produce inkjet-printed-equivalent images. Attaching electrochromic molecules to a film of semiconducting nanoparticles creates a <30 micron-thick film with several hundreds of layers; applying a charge through it causes the surface molecules to be charged and change color, an effect amplified by the film’s number of layers. (Adding an opaque white layer behind the electrochromic layer as a background makes the display images even more vivid, the company claims). The displays can be viewed from any angle and under various lighting conditions.

The display is compatible with standard printing equipment and processes (sheet or Web-fed/R2R screen, flexographic, inkjet) and can be combined with other printed electronic technologies on the same substrate.

Aside from manufacturing compatibility (which helps keep costs down and widens end-application uses), a key distinction in Ntera’s technology is power consumption. A liquid crystal display (LCD) requires constant electronic charge to maintain its image. But Ntera’s NanoChromic display technology requires electrically charging a material to change its color — so using a charge-storing layer to feed energy to the electrochromic material means the image can stay active for several hours (the display itself acts as a capacitor), drawing as little as 0.5V for activation and <1V DC triggered by color changes. (It’s directly compatible with 1.5V power systems, the company notes.)

Low-power requirements point to applications including:


And generally, the company is targeting three kinds of "smart" applications:

  • Cards (plastic "smart cards," debit cards, transit cards….even greeting cards)
  • Objects (things that can interact with the environment — security displays, toys, games, devices, etc.)
  • Packaging (labels, RFID, merchandising displays — even printed-battery-powered
  • displays in magazines)


"The possibilities of combining an all-printed multi-layered system with the economies of scale from an established manufacturing infrastructure are rather incredible," notes David Corr, NTERA president/CEO.

The technology is being market-tested in Europe, according to the company. Simple battery/switch/display systems and RF-powered systems are now available for design-in, with more complex designs (requiring microcontrollers, sensors, and software) planned over the next 6-12 months.

Ntera was founded at University College Dublin in 1998, initially to commercialize technologies derived from the use of nanomaterials; in 2007 it narrowed its focus to the printed electronics sector. The company is now based in Philadelphia.

March 25, 2010 – Major changes in pharmaceutical products — from drug delivery systems to new biochemical compounds — are giving rise to new applications for nanotechnology not only in their creation and capabilities, but also how they are packaged, according to a new report from Innovative Research and Products Inc.

The advent of drug delivery systems and new compounds have resulted in a need not only for enhanced protection against various environmental factors (moisture, heat, light, oxygen, mechanical forces) but also opens the door for packaging to play a more integral role in drug delivery, e.g. stability and shelf life, the firm says. Basic categories of nanotech applications and functionalities appear in development of pharmaceutical packaging in several ways: enhancing plastic material barriers, incorporating active components to deliver functional attributes beyond conventional active packaging, and sensing/signaling relevant information. Adding nanoparticles into shaped objects and films can make them lighter, fire-resistant, less gas-permeable, and with improved mechanical and thermal performance. New pharma packaging could also improve drug safety by controlling microbial growth, delaying oxidation, and improving tamper visibility and anti-counterfeiting.

In a new report, the firm pegs the total market for nano-enabled packaging at $3.8B in 2009, growing at a 16.5% CAGR through 2014 to $8.1B. Within that are types of applications that can benefit from nanotech:

  • Blister packaging (about one quarter of the market: $941M in 2009, $2.1B in 2014) will see demand rise due to its adaptability to unit dose, clinical trial, compliance, institutional and over-the-counter drugs; advances in changeover features of process machinery will also help make blister packaging more cost-efficient in small volume drug applications.
  • Best growth will be for pre-fillable inhalers and syringes, thanks to performance advantages in drug delivery and new bioengineered medicines. Plastic bottles will sustain the largest share of global demand based on low cost, versatility, availability, and quality/design improvements.
  • Stricter government and industry standards covering drug container safety, security, and ease-of-use will drive growth in closures and accessories, particularly: child-resistant, senior friendly, and dispensing closures; compliance-enhanced prescription containers; high-visibility labels; and tamper-evident and anti-counterfeit accessories.

Several regional trends are also illustrated in the analysts’ report:

  • The US and Europe will remain the largest consumers of pharmaceutical packaging, introducing new drug therapies with specialized packaging needs. The North America market for nano-enabled packaging in pharma will grow from $1.08B in 2008 to $2.03B by 2014; the European market will grow from $1.15B to $1.46B.
  • Japan continues to have the major share of the Asia Pacific market (65%), but India is evolving into a fast-growing pharmaceutical packaging market as drug-producing sectors are upgraded and diversified, especially for generic drugs.
  • China’s growth opportunities will be among the strongest, based on rapidly expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and government efforts to upgrade the quality and integrity of nationally produced medicines.
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Global market (in US $B) for nano-enabled packaging
for pharmaceuticals, by technology. (Source: iRAP Inc.)

 

This article was originally published by RenewableEnergyWorld.com and was reprinted by permission.

by Jennifer Kho, contributor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com

March 24, 2010 – When A123Systems saw its shares jump more than 50% in a successful Nasdaq debut back in September, some industry insiders expected it would be the first of a bevy of big energy-storage headlines. Instead, energy storage seems to have fallen out of the limelight, getting nothing near as much hype as Bloom Energy, a fuel-cell company focused on electricity generation instead of energy storage, generated when it launched last month.

But a series of recent small announcements suggest that energy-storage technologies are quietly making progress toward commercialization nonetheless. "There seems to be a lot more buzz in the last few months, and what’s interesting is it’s not all on the automotive side," said Sara Bradford, a principal consultant for global research firm Frost & Sullivan. While automobiles remain a key area for new energy-storage technologies, she’s seeing a "spillover effect" as research and investment spreads into other areas, including grid applications for utilities and nonautomotive transportation.

Some examples? In February, Valence Technology signed a $45 million deal to supply its lithium-ion battery systems for a new line of hybrid-electric yachts, sailboats and motorboats from Beneteau Group. And International Battery, another lithium-ion rechargeable battery manufacturer, announced it was selected to supply battery systems for an American Electric Power smart-grid demonstration project in Ohio.

The community energy storage part of the project, which is being developed by S&C Electric Company, is intended help stabilize the grid and provide backup power, potentially enabling plug-in electric vehicles and a higher percentage of intermittent renewable-energy sources, such as solar and wind power.

In January, battery maker GS Battery teamed up with screen-printed solar-cell manufacturer Suniva to develop solar-power systems with batteries that can store the energy for times of peak demand. And Ice Energy — which reduces peak electricity demand from air conditioners in the middle of the day by making ice at night, when demand is low and surplus electricity is available, and using it to help cool air conditioning refrigerant when temperatures are high — signed a deal to sell its devices to the 11 municipal utilities represented by the Southern California Public Power Authority.

While many of the announcements have represented only small steps — such as pilot projects or an entrance into niche markets — they show that a number of technologies are on the right track, and some are ready to go, she said. "Exciting things are happening that set the stage to really make [commercialization] happen short-term," Bradford said. "These announcements are certainly steps in the right direction to get these technologies ready for electric vehicles and the grid."

Electric vehicles and grid storage represent huge potential markets for new energy-storage technologies. As startups Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive work to advance electric sports cars, companies such as General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co., and Volkswagen are rushing to come out with plug-in hybrids. And as utilities work to meet state renewable-energy goals and add more solar and wind power to their portfolios, energy storage to help smooth out the intermittent power from those sources is becoming ever more critical.

Roadblocks ahead

Of course, energy storage technologies have some big obstacles to overcome before they’ll be commercially viable for those applications, Bradford said. First of all, they’re too expensive, and companies are working to cut costs. Car battery systems also need high power density, as automakers want batteries to deliver a long electric range with as little size and weight as possible, and — given the high density — technology that ensures they that won’t catch fire. Safety also is a big issue for backup power batteries, especially those intended for homes, Bradford said.

And while both electric vehicle and clean-energy markets have been spurred by government initiatives and policies, both the auto industry and the energy industry are notoriously slow-moving. In general, companies with multiple applications will be more likely to have the foundation they need to survive the wait to the electric vehicle and grid markets, Bradford said. "Obviously, the Holy Grail is to be in the automotive or grid market for this technology, but the reality is there needs to be niche applications to build that momentum to those big fish," she said.

Why are we seeing all this activity now? For one thing, Bradford thinks we may be seeing a delayed effect from the A123 IPO. "It didn’t happen right away — 2009 was a rocky year for the industry, with some setbacks in orders coming in and the economic downturn — but now I’m seeing some new interest," she said. "Certainly I feel from the research that we’ve seen and the market movement that this [sector] may emerge more quickly than others when the economy recovers."

The stimulus package also played a big role in raising interest in energy-storage technology, setting aside $2 billion in advanced battery manufacturing grants and up to $25 billion in loans for advanced vehicles, including related energy-storage technologies. Last year, Bradford said that the U.S. battery industry was "humming with revived confidence" as a result of the stimulus package.

Even though the loan guarantees have rolled out more slowly than expected, the government funding has clearly had an effect. For example, when A123 won a $249 million manufacturing grant from the U.S. Department of Energy a month before its initial public offering last year, it "was pretty clear [the grant] helped get investors excited about the company," said Sheeraz Haji, president of the Cleantech Group. "Private capital is following public capital." Venture-capital investment in energy storage grew 23% globally in 2009 to $472 million, according to the group.

With all the government and venture-capital attention, you can expect to see more energy-storage announcements coming soon. It remains to be seen whether the announcements will result in real products that can help spur electric vehicles and more renewable energy on the grid, but Bradford said that several companies are now finishing up their evaluation period — meaning that it should soon become clear whether their technologies are ready to address these markets or not.

One good sign is that a few companies are starting to see revenues, she said, pointing to Valence’s commercial deal. Bradford expects to see more energy-storage technologies to hit the market in the next 12 to 18 months.

Freelancer Jennifer Kho has been covering green technology since 2004, when she was a reporter at Red Herring magazine. She has more than nine years of reporting experience, most recently serving as the editor of Greentech Media. Her stories have appeared in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, BusinessWeek.com, CNN.com, Earth2Tech, Cleantechnica, MIT’s Technology Review, and TheStreet.com.