SaratogaEnergy's comments

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

Awesome. Thank you!

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

We weren't ready to apply to the carbon xprize when it was announced. But we're ready to scale quickly with Y Combinator!

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

We grow conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Some of the layers may be semi-conductive. But in bulk they are a conductive material. We haven't refined the process to the point where we can select for conductivity type yet.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

The CNTs we are making right now are about 10-20 microns long. Making them longer is a focus area for us. However, the nano-materials department at Rice has created a wet-spinning process the can bundle CNTs into continuous fiber. They aren't quite a strong as a continuous CNT from what i've heard, but still stronger than carbon fiber. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XDJC64tDR0

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

maybe it'll buy us some time to figure out fusion! I think if we can get the electric car market to a more significant level as well (and power them on renewables) that would also have a big impact.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

We like the battery idea the best as well. We've chosen that as our first product to market. Me make multi-walled carbon nanotubes which are conductive in bulk. Its possible that there are non-conductive layers, but they are encased by conductive layers that counter act them. For concrete i've sen research showing 50% improvement in strength with 1% carbon nanotube concentration. We haven't confirmed this ourselves yet, but we are starting up a testing program soon. We are also planning on scaling with renewables like hydroelectric. If in the future carbon nanotubes can be used to replace aluminum as a structural material, there may be an opportunity to use they hydroelectric they were once operating on to power the process. But I agree, to reach a massive scale, we will need massive renewable energy. But I think we need that anyway!

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

Yes they can. Always looking for new applications!

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

YES

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

If all goes well at demo day we'll be looking for mechanical engineers! Please send your info!

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

Thank you! My father is an awesome guy with a unique perspective on the future! I'd rather not get specific, but having an initial angel investor was crucial for us to be able to generate the amount of data we needed to win our first grant an keep things moving forward.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

only certain types of carbon nanotubes that have a thick and rigid structure have asbestos-like qualities. These are no longer used outside of Asia. The thinner, flexible variety similar to the ones we make do not share these qualities an do not penetrate cell tissue. Similar to carbon black, which is a widely used nano-material in car tires. Carbon nanotubes are also sold in solution and in dispersion so they cannot easily become air born.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

Haha, thank you! Our site definitely needs an update. We have a more detailed website in the works! I'll keep you posted!

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

This is for sure a tough challenge. I think supercharging stations charge at 400V and 250A for the model S. Porsche and others also have 800V chargers coming online.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

that would be awesome. thank you! ill send you an email.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

Agreed. That is definitely a problem that needs some attention. There is a big research effort going on at the Department of Energy "Enabling Extreme Fast Charging" that is providing funding for solutions to fast charging from the battery performance end and from the charging infrastructure ends. Hopefully industry finds some solution sooner rather than later. https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/downloads/enabling-extr...

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

Thanks for the tip! I've heard that Molecular Rebar and Black Diamond Structures have a great process to untangle and purify CNTs. I believe their business model is to buy low cost CNTs from other producers and upgrade them with their process. Maybe there's an opportunity for collaboration.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

HSE is health and Safety. I'm not sure what the 'E' stands for :)

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

The main suppliers are Showa Denko, Nanocyl, Arkema, and Cnano. Their prices range from $75/kg to $300/kg.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

The health concerns mostly related to air born nano-materials dust. We plan to distribute the product in a way that minimizes these concerns. Current CNT producers reduce this risk by selling their products in solution or pre-dispersed into a host matrix (like plastic) so no dust can be created. Also, morphology plays a big role in health. If the cnts produced look like needles, this is similar to asbestos. Not good. If you produce CNTs that look more like spaghetti, they cannot penetrate tissue and are less of a concern. These are the type that we are focused on.

SaratogaEnergy | 7 years ago | on: Launch HN: Saratoga Energy (YC W19), Better Carbon Nanotubes from Carbon Dioxide

thanks! in the case of the cement market, carbon nanotubes have been used in 1% concentration to improve the lifespan of cement. 4 billion tons of cement are produced every year. If carbon nanotubes where used in all new cement mixtures, that would be 40 million tons of carbon nanotubes per year, which would consume 148 million tons of CO2 per year. But perhaps more importantly, carbon nanotubes would reduce the replacement frequency of cement structures. cement production is one of the largest industrial sources of carbon dioxide emissions.