GOLDEN, Colo., Sept. 23, 2015 – Assistant Professor of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Geoff Brennecka has been awarded $150,000 over two years to produce prototype capacitors that will allow electronics to operate reliably at high temperatures.

The proof-of-concept grant was awarded by the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade's Advanced Industry Accelerator Grant Program. The program seeks to promote growth in the state's "advanced industries," which include aerospace, bioscience, and electronics. OEDIT announced $2.4 million in grants this month.

Numerous applications in the energy, transportation, and power distribution markets need electronics that work reliable at temperatures above 200 degrees Celsius, Brennecka said. Capacitors currently available provide too little performance at too high a cost.

Mines researchers have previously developed high-performance dielectrics -- a type of electrical insulator -- for these operating conditions. Brennecka and PneumatiCoat Technologies (PCT) in Broomfield have developed technology to integrate these materials with inexpensive electrodes, using PCT's capabilities for quickly applying thin films on powder surfaces (high-throughput atomic layer deposition).

The grant will allow Mines and PCT to demonstrate prototypes of the joint technology to encourage further investment and adoption by capacitor industry partners.

Contact:
Mark Ramirez, Information Specialist, College of Applied Science & Engineering | 303-384-2622 | ramirez@mines.edu
Karen Gilbert, Director of Public Relations, Colorado School of Mines | 303-273-3541 | kgilbert@mines.edu