Applied Nanotech Holdings Inc. has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop ultra-lightweight hydrogen fuel tanks that use carbon nanotube reinforcement. This technology is also suitable for use in compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks.
The two-year program will seek to ‘significantly improve the mechanical properties of the carbon fiber/epoxy material used to construct hydrogen fuel tanks with CNT reinforcement,’ the company says. The goal is to reduce the weight of the tanks by 20% or more, which will significantly lower tank costs and increase vehicles' fuel efficiency.
‘With the capabilities of our Austin [Texas] plant to produce 10-12 tons of carbon nanotube reinforced epoxy resin annually, the successful completion of this SBIR Phase II program could result in a product that can be immediately introduced to market,’ says Dr. Zvi Yaniv, CEO of Applied Nanotech.
