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TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Low Temperature and Inexpensive Manufacturing of Metal Hydride Targets A process to form a thick, uniform, adherent, and smooth metal film on hydride targets that uses... TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Low Temperature and Inexpensive Manufacturing of Metal Hydride Targets A process to form a thick, uniform, adherent, and smooth metal film on hydride targets that uses drastically lower temperatures which lowers cost. Opportunity: Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), is offering the opportunity to enter into a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this low-cost process for manufacturing metal hydride targets. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses and ultimately an improved way of life for the American people. Overview: Portable neutron generators are widely used in defense, national security, detection of special nuclear/explosive, narcotics materials, oil well logging, mineral exploration, coal analysis for power plants and materials characterization. Two of the critical components of this portable prove include a neuron producing metal hydride target and a gas-control reservoir, also made of a metal hydride material. Current manufacturing processes of the target are expensive due to high temperatures, ultra-high vacuums, and expensive instrumentation. INL’s new technology presents the development of a low-temperature manufacturing option. The process uses a compound of the metal, a molten salt, and a DC power supply to form a thick, uniform, adherent, smooth metal film on the target. Description: This process utilizes a molten salt-based process where the metallic film is deposited on the target at a much lower temperature. Since the molten salt does not contain any oxygen, the metallic film does not pick up any oxygen during the deposition process. This process utilizes a new, yet highly effective, electrolyte system to form thick, smooth, and adherent metallic film. Benefits: Lower cost of less than 50% of the existing price. A steadier manufacturing process. Applications: The portable neutron generators that use the target have a wide variety of applications: Widely used for both quantitative and qualitative analysis/determination pertaining to a wide range of materials. Detection of composition/source of unknown materials, Materials characterization. Development Status: TRL 3. Analytical and experimental critical function and proof-of-concept have been performed. IP Status: Provisional Patent Application No. 63/203,398, “Methods of Forming an Article, and Related Articles and Plating Baths,” BEA Docket No. BA-1278. INL is seeking to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities. Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.