TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Additively manufactured targets for inertial confinement fusion

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Contract Opportunity

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its additively manufactured targets for inertial confinement fusion.

Background:

Recent groundbreaking Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) experiments that showed the first instances that fusion ignition (i.e., more energy generated via fusion reaction compared to the laser energy driven onto a fusion fuel target) can be achieved at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Current target designs for ignition demand a deuterium-tritium (D-T) ice layer to be formed on the inner layer of the capsule - a complex process that can take multiple days. A capsule that can hold a layer of liquid fuel on its inner surface could simplify the fuel target fabrication and allow for the exploration of more complex phenomena, including higher ignition energy yield.

Additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, in particular two-photon lithography (TPL), have been proposed to fabricate such targets that would otherwise be impossible to mass manufacture using conventional means. TPL uses a laser beam to enable rapid fabrication of complex 3D structures with sub-wavelength resolved features by polymerization of photo-responsive liquid material.

Description:

LLNL researchers have developed additive manufactured fuel targets for IFE. They have been successful in using TPL to fabricate low density (down to 60 mg/cm3) and low atomic number (CHO) polymeric foams for potential targets, and some have been tested at the OMEGA Laser Facility. With TPL, LLNL researchers have also been able to fabricate a full fuel capsule with diameter of ~5 mm or less, and a capsule with an attached foam layer inside of the solid shell.

Advantages/Benefits:

Using a relatively simple AM process to print a low-density foam for liquid deuterium/tritium to wick into by capillary action and form a uniform fuel layer, this potentially does away with the need for the multi-day process to grow a deuterium/tritium ice layer inside an existing capsule.

Potential Applications:

High throughput system and method to fabricate fuel integral IFE targets for NIF and IFE target manufacture; scale up enables commercialization of IFE.

Development Status:

Current stage of technology development: TRL ☐ 0-2 ☒ 3-5 ☐ 5-9

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Additively manufactured targets for inertial confinement fusion should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.


2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.


3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Additively manufactured targets for inertial confinement fusion.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA 94551-0808

Attention: IL-13994

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