Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. (announced that it has been awarded a Phase I contract by the US Army under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop a battery anode using a novel silicon nanostructure material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The amount of the contract is $100,000.

Lithium-ion batteries, which make up more than 75 percent of the multi-billion dollar rechargeable battery marketplace, currently use carbon anodes. The innovative technology that ANI is developing to replace the carbon anodes will improve batteries’ charge capacity, micro-scale charge conduction, and energy density resulting in a longer life battery that can withstand more charge cycles.

ANI will leverage its expertise in making silicon nanoparticles (Issued US Patent 7531155), ink development, and ink processing to demonstrate the feasibility of a nano-Si anode with remarkably increased charge capacity and performance during the six month Phase I SBIR program.

“Utilizing several of our patents and patent pending technologies, we have identified a solution enabled by nanotechnology that addresses an existing problem in a very large market arena” said Dr. Zvi Yaniv, CEO of Applied Nanotech, Inc.

“We are continuing to focus our efforts on using our technology to develop cost effective methods to provide environmentally advantageous solutions that have substantial market value. Improving rechargeable batteries and extending battery life is a perfect example of this strategy,” said Doug Baker, CEO of Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc.