Liquidia Lands $2M Federal Government Award

Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Liqudia Technologies has received a $2 million award from the federal government for a nanotechnology project linked to solar power.

The award came through the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Technology Program.

Liquidia will use the funds to develop and manufacturer solar cells based on its nanotechnology printing program called PRINT. The process involves the use of nano-technology for production of thin films that can be used for light management.

“Liquidia is currently working with partners to improve light management efficiency across photovoltaic [solar cell] and display applications,” the company said in a statement.

Liquidia's technology is based on materials known as fluoropolymers that are liquids at room temperature but cure to transparent solids when exposed to lights. Liquidia has developed a material platform technology called Fluorocur, which enables the mass production of precise and uniform micro-sized and nano-sized particles.

Fluorocur is based on research done at UNC Chapel Hill and NCSU by Joe DeSimone. DeSimone has been involved in entrepreneurial ventures in the past, including the launching of a chain of dry cleaners that did not rely on chemicals. In 1996, he launched Micell Technologies, which focused on using carbon dioxide as a solvent.

The company, which was launched in 2004, closed on $16 million in financing in March.