Generation | Office of Technology Licensing

Available Technologies by Category
Solar Cell Manufacturing Technique Increases Efficiency and Lowers Costs	This double-side polysilicon/silicon oxide TOPCon (tunnel oxide passivated contact) solar cell concept provides a simple and low-cost way to passivate front and back surfaces of silicon wafers to enhance efficiency. Provides current and voltage comparable to full-area double-side TOPCon but with no appreciable absorption in front polysilicon and without compromising short circuit current density Includes a novel and fast way to pattern polysilicon using laser-induced selective oxidation	8888
Deployable Critical Active Learning (DECAL) System Offers Better Characterization for Improved Diagnostics and Imaging	The deployable critical active learning (DECAL) system’s bi-modal interface enables better characterization with large training sets that generate more accurate output for higher precision. The algorithm used during the initialization period creates a framework that can be expanded and generalized to any data method and application. The DECAL algorithm samples uniquely important, unlabeled data to aid existing active learning systems in generalizing more quickly, providing faster diagnosis statistics.	9099
Parametric Resonance Approach for Efficient, Versatile Acoustic Power Transfer for Implantable/Wearable Devices, Sensing, and Communications	New class of transducers utilizes parametric resonance to convert acoustic energy from an ultrasonic source to a sustained electrical signal. Technology powers implantable biomedical devices, small wearable sensors, and other wireless charging applications. Simple yet robust generation of stable electromechanical frequency combs is also possible in both air and liquid environments using a capacitive micro-resonator array.	7635, 9075
Quantitative, Performance-Driven Framework for Optimal Desalination Architectures and Energy Subsystems	Incorporate and simultaneously compare attributes of multiple types of both desalting systems and energy subsystems for optimal system architectures Assess parameters that impact overall cost to discover complete architectures that would not have been discoverable using traditional methods. Focus on renewable energy subsystems such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and others to create complete desalination architectures that are cleaner and more water efficient than their conventional counterparts.	9055
Self-Driven, Reusable, Scalable Technique for Harvesting Microalgae with Porous Superabsorbent Polymer	Fast: The optimized pore structure of the PSAP beads allows fast and selective absorption of water, greatly reducing standard processing time. Cost effective: Microalgae harvesting with PSAP beads cuts costs, as it does not require any complex instrument and little training is needed to operate the harvesting procedures. Scalable: PSAP beads can be produced in large quantities at a significantly lower cost than conventional harvesting tools.	8849
Vapor Phase Infiltration Produces Solar Cells with Greater Thermal Stability	Stability: Decreasing spiro-OMeTAD crystallization improves thermal stability of hole transport layers within perovskite solar cells (PSCs) Longevity: Eliminating the main cause of PSCs’ operational degradation increases the overall product lifespan Efficiency: Preventing the delamination of the layers transporting electronic charge has doubled the power conversion efficiency of modified PSCs	9034
Atomic Metal Catalysts	Innovative: Generates new isomers by changing the order in which atoms are added in a hetero-atomic cluster (can maximize available catalytic sites) Efficient: Creates and optimizes active isomers of atomic metals such as Au and Pd, increasing the catalytic efficiency of these high-demand metals (requires minimal precious catalytic metal) Scalable: Provides a scalable process resulting in theoretically predictable catalytic properties	6451, 5217
Reprocessing, Recycling, and Repairing Covalent Adaptable Network Polymers	Environmentally friendly: Recycles fibers and polymers without the use of supercritical chemicals (e.g., acids) Effective: Allows for pressure-free surface repair and welding Efficient: Reclaims fibers and polymer with the same mechanical properties as fresh material for use in new products	7348
Cascaded Nickel Hard Mask	Substantially deeper etches: Because a very thick metal mask can be created, a wide range of µm features can be etched in a variety of III-Nitride semiconductors, allowing for extremely high voltage devices that require thicker layer structures Robust: This method has demonstrated highly consistent and effective protection against the kind of damage that is typical with standard fabrication methods Scalable: The nickel hard mask with cascaded e-beam evaporation and sputtering metal deposition method can readily be applied to the large-scale production of electronic devices	8790
Self-Powered Highly Stretchable Sensing Interface for Gesture Recognition	Self-contained: Includes a signal processing pipeline, providing gesture recognition for an extensive range of input modalities without the need for external power or sensing equipment Assistive: Enables eyes-free, unobtrusive, and ergonomic interaction with computing devices embedded in wearables Versatile: Demonstrates far-reaching potential for applications beyond gesture recognition including in actuation and data acquisition	7987
p-type Be-Doped AlN Films and Layered Films	Enabling: Leverages MME method to provide the first access to p-type AlN:Be films, a superior ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor material good for high-power, high-temperature diodes and transistors Ease of fabrication: Avoids costly and complicated methods unfavorable for beryllium doping Improved breakdown performance: Achieves high reverse breakdown voltage—a significant advantage over WBG materials such as silicon carbide (SiC) and GaN	8810, 8666, 8786
Flexible Power Generation with Negative Carbon Emissions	Energy security: This system enables the continued use of low-cost domestic fuel (i.e., natural gas) for electricity generation and increases the reliability of U.S. electricity production. Environmental protection: Flexible carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems can achieve high CO2 capture rates from flue gas. For example, with this system a power generator could shift the times it exports electricity to the grid, allowing the power generator and CCS plant to operate under steady-state conditions and with reduced emissions. Reduced costs: The cost of a net-zero carbon electricity system is lowered by providing dispatchable power to a high-VRE grid.	8834
A Method for Creating a Protective Cap Layer for Semiconductor Wafers	Protective: Provides a thin protective layer or “cap” after the first layer is deposited, protecting the underlying structure from atmospheric contaminants Robust: Enables realization of the advantages of hybrid growth processes by eliminating performance-degrading contaminants and resulting defects Advanced: Offers superior protection against contamination compared with simple chemical cleaning methods utilized in other systems, especially against impurity species such as oxides	8435
Micro Ammonia Production System (MAPS)—Systems and methods for making nitrogen-based compounds	Higher yield and efficiency: Uses hollow hybrid nanoparticles instead of solid nanoparticles for a three-fold enhancement in electrocatalytic activity due to the increased surface area and higher number of successful reactant collisions Sustainable production: Leverages renewable electricity sources and offers clean and sustainable ammonia electrosynthesis, unlike the current industrial method for ammonia production that is energy intensive and heavily relies on fossil fuels Simplified process: Enables production of ammonia via gas-phase system with few or no additional steps for separation and purification	8056
Purely Passive Radio-Frequency Identification	Powerful: Projected to support energy harvesting sensors at distances over 100 meters from readers and/or radio transmission sources Efficient: Enables conversion of RF energy at higher efficiency and at higher output voltages than current electronic energy harvesting methods Widely applicable: May advance RFID applications in a wide range of fields including computing, sensing, and communication	7194
Sustainable Combination Technology Delivers a Long-Lasting Self-Powered Battery	Continuous: Regulates power harvested in the presence of constant mechanical motion to store excess energy while pushing a constant voltage to the external load Eco-friendly: Reduces the need for consumers and technology developers to utilize supply-limited traditional batteries that are thrown away after a short use and could leak harmful chemicals into the environment Sustainable: Eliminates the need to mine an additional power supply by harvesting energy from underutilized electrostatic induction found in naturally occurring mechanical motion	6418
Energy Storage for Automotive/Portable Applications	Increased storage density — backbone offers high surface area for hydrogen storage Fast and easy — polymer readily folds and unfolds for hydrogen storage and fast release in response to actuation Suitable for packaging — uses compliant polymers as a matrix to assume any form factor	3626
SlothBot: Sustainable Solution for Studying Climate Change	Wide-ranging: Can switch between two different wire branches and can therefore traverse a whole mesh of wires Sustainable: Utilizes solar energy and runs with a low power consumption, making the robot highly energy efficient Low risk: Employs a fail-safe design that protects the robot from damage in the event of a mechanical failure	8194
Highly Efficient, Durable Cathodes for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs)	More stable: The technique used enhances cathode durability while maintaining the high-kinetic electrode structure Stackable: The cathode design is suitable for implementation in a fuel cell stack Fast: The combination of nanoparticles and conformal coatings provides increased reaction sites and rapid transport paths	7256
Hybrid Triboelectric Nanogenerator Harvests Mechanical and Electrical Energy	Sustainable: Harvests energy from the environment to minimize the use of non-renewable materials for power Highly efficient: Exhibits an unprecedented conversion efficiency of 50% to 85%, an area power density of 313 watts per square meter, and a volume power density of 340 kilowatts per cubic meter Powerful: Integrates with several other TENGs for output power of 1 megawatt	6606

Technologies