Area of Collaboration

Develop a cost-effective high-throughput production technology for nanostructured thermoelectric materials for use in high-efficiency solid state cooling and power generation.

Company Background

ThermoAura Inc., founded in 2011 is a nanomaterials company that is commercializing a novel manufacturing nanotechnology developed at RPI. Their mission is to deploy affordable high-performance nanomaterials to unlock the multibillion-dollar market for thermoelectric energy conversion applications such as electricity harvesting from waste heat and solid-state refrigeration. The business model is design, production and marketing of high-performance thermoelectric nanomaterials.

Work with CFES

The Center for Future Energy Systems partnered with Professors Ramanath and Theodorian Borca-Tasciuc to support early stage NSF research and collaboration efforts to synthesize and characterize high figure of merit chalcogenides. Later stage efforts were focused to develop technology processes and protect key proprietary knowledge. CFES also gave business assistance for a NSF SBIR grant application that resulted in award of $900K to develop scaleable technology processes and enabled continued University access through Facilities Use Agreement. The processes developed solve the problems of cost effective, industrial-scale fabrication of nanocrystals with tunable properties, and nanocrystal handling and as a consequence realization of high efficiency thermoelectrics. The Center acted as a conduit for research, marketing and business support providing expertise, facilities and resources.

Impacts of CFES Work

ThermoAura demonstrated that the microwave technology pathway could lead to up to 25% higher figure of merit improvement, which directly equates to energy efficiency. This efficiency gain offers the potential of a major market expansion to device manufacturers and the exploration of new markets that are estimated at >$250M.  ThermoAura moved to a new production facility in Colonie in 2015, hired 6 new positions, and was awarded significant manufacturing grants totalling ($1,293K), and VC capital to further develop their process techniques. The Center for Future Energy Systems continues to work with ThermoAura on business and technology collaborations.