VRC Metal Systems, LLC — Department of Defense STTR Phase II: AF19C-T010
VRC Metal Systems, LLC — STTR Phase II award from Department of Defense.
Phase II STTR prototype / development signal
- Phase II is where Department of Defense funds deeper R&D after feasibility. Incumbents with Phase II history are serious competitors on adjacent topics.
- Use this award as past-performance context and to map customer organizations for STRATFI/TACFI-style transition planning.
- Obligated amount $250,000. Cross-check similar awards in the same agency and technology tags for going-rate context.
- Topic code AF19C-T010 links this award to a solicitation family — search the same topic stem for incumbents and recompete timing.
- Amount
- $250,000
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Air Force
- Program / Phase
- STTR · Phase II
- Topic
- AF19C-T010
- Solicitation
- 19.C
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- SD
- Period
- 2020-09-29 → 2021-12-29
Description
A Si-based alloy anode for rechargeable Li-ion batteries will be created using “cold spray”, a solid-state materials deposition technique. In this process inert driver gas is used to accelerate powdered feedstock particles to supersonic speeds. No melting occurs, instead deposits form as a result of severe deformation. This allows deposition of Si, a material prone to oxidation otherwise. Initial Phase I results showed that Si-based alloys were successfully deposited with minimal (<5%) oxygen update. These anodes will allow for much higher capacity Li-ion batteries without needing to change anything else in current batteries. This will enable quick uptake in the commercial market, and the first manufacturer of this technology will have a substantial competitive advantage in the growing rechargeable battery market, which is expected to attract $620 billion in investments over the next two decades. With this anode, electric cars with ranges of 1000 miles will be possible, along with longer-lasting consumer electronic batteries, increased endurance of Dept. of Defense assets, and increased operating time of on-the-ground warfighters and search-and-rescue personnel.