Luna Innovations Awarded $4M in Nanotech Contracts

ROANOKE, Va., Jan. 22, 2007 -- Luna Innovations Inc., a developer of molecular technology and sensing solutions, has been awarded $4 million in US Air Force contracts for continued research and development of nanotechnology-enabled products, the company announced today.

The $4 million includes a $2.3 million subcontract from General Dynamics Information Technology Inc. (formerly Anteon Corp.) and a $1.7 million contract from the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Both contracts will be performed over the next several years. General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) previously awarded Luna $3.3 million in nanotechnology research funding.

Luna is primarily focused on researching and developing products enhanced by nanomaterials. In 2004, the company opened a 24,000-sq-ft manufacturing, research and development facility in Danville, Va., to produce nanomaterials for applications such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents, electromagnetic interference coatings and next-generation solar cells.

Under the subcontract, Luna will support GDIT's goal of producing nanomaterials in sufficient quantities and at a price that makes them feasible to use in real-world systems. A pilot plant, expected to be completed during this program, is intended to enable accelerated application of advanced nanostructured material systems.

Under the AFOSR contract, Luna will work through the Nanophotonic Component Program (NCP) to support Department of Defense needs regarding future air combat systems and ground support optoelectronics. The objective of the NCP is to use nanotechnology to develop new components such as next-generation solar cells and lighter-weight electromagnetic interference- (EMI) resistant composites.

For more information, visit: www.lunainnovations.com

Published: January 2007

Glossary

nano: An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
nanotechnology: The use of atoms, molecules and molecular-scale structures to enhance existing technology and develop new materials and devices. The goal of this technology is to manipulate atomic and molecular particles to create devices that are thousands of times smaller and faster than those of the current microtechnologies.
optoelectronics: Optoelectronics is a branch of electronics that focuses on the study and application of devices and systems that use light and its interactions with different materials. The term "optoelectronics" is a combination of "optics" and "electronics," reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of this field. Optoelectronic devices convert electrical signals into optical signals or vice versa, making them crucial in various technologies. Some key components and applications of optoelectronics include: ...
photonics: The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...

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