The Challenges in Commercializing Nanomaterials Keith Blakely kblakelynanodynamics

The Challenges in Commercializing Nanomaterials Keith Blakely kblakely@nanodynamics. com 1

Contents n n n Technology exploitation – and lessons learned Nanotechnology as a toolkit Nearer-term opportunities in nanotechnology 2

Technology Exploitation …and lessons learned 3

“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 and economic product that fits my process, and is produced using a characterized and scalable process 4

Past Technology Booms n n Inventions usually in corporate labs or universities Bandwagon of companies jumping on the trend q q n n n “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 5

Structural Ceramics n n 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? q Product designs didn’t stand still and wait for the materials to mature n n q q n 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… 6

Lessons n n n 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 7

Nanotechnology as a Toolkit 8

Will Nanotechnology be the Same Boom and Bust Story? n n Time will tell! There are similarities and differences q q Market pull from electronics / medicine / defense / energy Huge diversity of processes n n n q Huge diversity of products n n q Chemical Physical Biological Particulate Nanostructured materials Composites Coatings Too much money chasing opportunities 9

How can nanotechnology help? It allows us to develop: n n n 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…. . ) 10

Crossover in technologies and markets is real – Nano. Dynamics products and markets 11

Nearer-term Commercial Opportunities 12

Application industries n n n Automotive Chemical Engineering Electronics Construction Medicine n n n Textiles Energy Cosmetics Food and drinks Household Sporting goods (VDI Technologiezentrum EC Report) 13

Electronics n MLCC electrode materials and dielectrics q q n 50 – 300 nm Ni and Ba. Ti. O 3 New Pd-Ag systems will revive precious metal electrode systems Embedded Capacitors q Use of nanomaterials to increase effective K Clarkson University / Nano. Dynamics 14

Coatings and adhesives n ITO q q q Electrically conductive properties from sputtered systems for highest electrical conductivity IR absorbing coating systems using suspended nanoparticles Transparent conducting adhesives with <10% ITO MMP/Nano. Dynamics 15

Nanotech in Energy Solar Cells 16

Solid oxide fuel cell • Fuel flexibility • Rapid start • High efficiency • Cost-effective 17

Nanotech in Consumer Products 18

Nanotech in Consumer Products 19

Nanotech in Defense & Homeland Security n n n Advanced armor and munitions Biological and chemical sensors Adaptive camouflage “Smart skin” Portable power 20

So Why Isn’t Everyone Getting Rich? n n 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 21

Our Strategic Approach n n 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 22

Summary n New materials have historically been challenging to commercialize q n n 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 23