Argonne National Laboratory

Press Release | Argonne National Laboratory

Pixelligent Technologies granted innovation research award by Dept. of Energy
Argonne's Nicholaos Demas measures the wear of a test specimen that is used for the Pixelligent project. The profilometer measures height information from white-light interference, and computer processing is used to obtain roughness, profile, and wear volume.

BALTIMORE – Pixelligent Technologies announced that it has been awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II grant by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The two-year, $1M program will enable Pixelligent to accelerate the development of its nanoadditives for use in advanced lubricants to reduce fuel consumption and engine wear. 

The SBIR program, established by the U.S. Congress, supports scientific excellence and technological innovation through the investment of federal research funds. The goal of this program is to develop a working prototype of a formulated oil that reduces engine wear and fuel consumption for the existing ground vehicle fleet. As part of this program, Pixelligent will work with a team of leading tribology experts including: Argonne National Laboratory; the University of Pennsylvania Dept. of Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics; and support from Afton Chemical Corporation, a leading fuel and lubricant additive company. Pixelligent’s award of this Phase II SBIR grant follows its win of a Phase I SBIR grant in 2012.

“This is an important win for Pixelligent and is a testament to both the broad applicability and commercialization potential of our technology,” commented Craig Bandes, President & CEO of Pixelligent Technologies. ​“This funding will enable us to continue our work in developing more fuel efficient technologies that have the potential to significantly reduce global fuel consumption, while prolonging the lifetime of automobile engines. We are honored to have been selected by DOE for this program, and look forward to working with our world class partners to help deliver the next generation of additive technology to the lubricants market –”, commented Dr. Gregory Cooper, Founder & CTO of Pixelligent Technologies.” 

Pixelligent Technologies (www​.pix​el​li​gent​.com) is an advanced materials company that is delivering next generation materials for Solid-State Lighting, Flat Panel Displays, Optical Components and Films, and lubricants. Pixelligent’s PixClear™ product line delivers a high refractive index >1.85, unparalleled transparency >95%, and improved scratch resistance.  PixClear™ can be easily incorporated into lubricants and the most commonly used polymers, from acrylics and epoxies to silicones and spin-on glasses, all while using industry standard manufacturing processes.