From the Director / Tech Transfer News Briefs. 2

Center Building Smarter Batteries to Store Energy. 3

Dr. Hank Foley Balances Two Roles at Penn State. 6

Upcoming Events. 7

Presentations Available from Penn State Energy Day in Washington. 7

Innovation Park Featured Invention: High-Energy Glass Capacitors to Power More Efficient Hybrid Electric Vehicles. 8

Industr ia l Research O f f i ce News le t ter F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 0

Penn State Receives $122 Million for U.S. DOE Energy Innovation HUB Pages 4-5

Also Ins ide. . .

T H E P E N N S Y L V A N I A S T A T E U N I V E R S I T Y

the National Science Foundation. The survey also showed that Penn State ranked ahead of all other Pennsylvania institutions.

The University had ranked 11th nationally and second in Pennsylvania during the previous fiscal year. Expenditures on science and engineering R&D in 2008-09 totaled about $753 million, up by 7 percent from the year before.

http://live.psu.edu/story/49401

Wall Street Journal ranks Penn State No. 1 among corporate recruitersWhile a wealth of rankings and surveys annually give Penn State high marks, one recent ranking reflecting students’ career prospects after grad-uation has the University rated the best in the nation.

In its special “Paths to Professions” section on September 13, 2010, the Wall Street Journal published results of a survey of 479 corporate recruit-ing executives in nearly 30 industries, with Penn State named the No. 1 overall institution in the nation for producing the best prepared, most well-rounded graduates who are most able to succeed once hired.

www.research.psu.edu/news/2010/wsj-ranking

Penn State named Campus Sustainability Leader in national surveyPenn State has been named a national Campus Sustainability Leader and increased its grade in a national survey of green schools. Penn State re-ceived a B+ rating in the Green Report Card survey conducted by the Sus-tainability Endowments Institute. The College Sustainability Report Card is an independent evaluation of campus and endowment sustainability activities at colleges and universities across North America. Penn State’s B+ rating is up from last year’s B rating.

The increase is due to the University’s continuing focus on greenhouse gas reduction and the activities of the newly formed Campus Sustainability Of-fice (CSO). Erik Foley, CSO director, said, “This survey is primarily focused on operations, student involvement and endowment. It is a valuable rec-ognition of Penn State’s green accomplishments and a reminder of what yet needs to be done.”

http://live.psu.edu/story/49485

Obama bestows National Medal of Science on BenkovicAmong the 10 individuals honored at the White House were Stephen J. Benkovic, Evan Pugh professor of chemistry and holder of the Eberly family chair in chemistry at Penn State. The National Medal of Science is the nation’s highest award for lifetime achieve-ment in fields of scientific research. It honors individuals for pioneering scientific research in a range of fields that enhance our under-standing of the world and lead to innovations

and technologies that give the United States its global economic edge.

Benkovic is renowned for his research accomplishments, which have been described as highly original, of unusual breadth and as having a profound impact on understanding how proteins function as catalysts. He has studied many different enzyme systems that are important in human biology, including research that has been of fundamental im-portance in the design of cancer drugs and antibiotics.

www.research.psu.edu/news/2010/benkovic-medal

Anacor Pharmaceuticals is first Penn State start-up to complete initial public offeringAnacor Pharmaceuticals, co-founded by Dr. Stephen Benkovic–Penn State Evan Pugh Professor and Eberly Chair in Chemistry, and recipi-ent of the 2010 National Medal of Science–is the first Penn State start-up company to complete an initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock. On November 30, 2010, Anacor (NASDAQ:ANAC) announced the completion of its IPO of 12,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $5.00 per share. Read the full press release on our website.

www.research.psu.edu/news/2010/anacor

Penn State ninth nationally in science, engineering R&D spendingPenn State rose to ninth place among all the nation’s colleges and uni-versities in total research and development expenditures on science and engineering for fiscal 2008-09, according to a recent survey by

As 2010 draws to a close and we reflect on the past year, the old adage of “where did all the time go” comes to mind. Well,

in the case of the IRO, we know exactly where the time went! We were hard at work this year creating our new website as

well as the redesign for the entire Vice President for Research site. If you have not had a chance to check it out, you should.

There are so many new features and additional information — it is one you will want to bookmark, www.research.psu.edu.

Also consuming much of our time was working with the Penn State-led team on the proposal to establish a U.S. DOE Energy

Innovation Hub for energy-efficient building systems. During the summer, we were busy working with companies to

secure over 60 letters of support, and holding informational webinars and visits. It was time well spent, as we were selected to receive this

prestigious $122 million award (see pages 4-5). We are now concluding the year by working on the agreements and assignment details for

the several tasks in which IRO will continue to participate.

Energy was definitely the hot topic for 2010. Not only were we involved in the DOE Hub activity at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia, we also

worked the other end of the state with a team led by the Pittsburgh Gateways Corporation on the redevelopment of the Connelley School,

and the surrounding acreage, that will create an energy campus in downtown Pittsburgh.

It was a busy year, but one that we can all look back on fondly. We not only created new research

partnerships, we built a lot of close relationships along the way.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday and the best for 2011!

f r o m t h e d i r e c t o r - T a n n a P u g h , I n d u s t r i a l R e s e a r c h O f f i c e

T E c H T R a n S F E R n E W S B R I E F S

tannapugh@psu.edu814-865-9519

Credit: Andy Colwell

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Penn State has been researching batteries that will store more energy and extend battery lifetimes—and impact the future of green energy solutions, as well as green

vehicle technology. The mission of The Electrochemical Engine Center (ECEC) is to conduct fundamental and applied research on fuel cells and advanced batteries for vehicle electrification (e.g. fuel-cell cars and electric vehicles); stationary power generation; energy storage (e.g. store renewable energy from solar, wind and energy storage systems); and smart grids.

The ECEC has extensive computational and experimental research facilities, including a recently installed large format Li-ion (lithium ion) cell fabrication facility believed to be the first among U.S. universities, according to Dr. Chao-Yang Wang, Distinguished Professor of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering and Director of the ECEC. His expertise is in the

fabrication, diagnostics and modeling of batteries.

“We are looking for novel materials to improve charge/discharge performances of batteries,” says Dr. Donghai Wang, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering. He is the materials expert in charge of making electrode materials.

The field of energy storage science and technology is growing as the nation

plans to embrace solar and wind power as energy sources. In collaboration with the ECEC, batteries are currently being tested in a locomotive by Norfolk Southern. The company unveiled a prototype 1,500-horsepower switching locomotive that relies on rechargeable batteries for power. Dr. Christopher D. Rahn, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, is leading a team to conduct experimental testing and computer modeling to learn the battery cycle life and how to extend it. The battery-only operation gives the train zero exhaust emissions. This locomotive is currently being used in an Altoona, Pennsylvania rail yard. Hybrid long-haul trains are a focus for the future.

Sources for the ECEC include private companies, as well as the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. “There is a great opportunity to collaborate with leading automotive and materials companies,” Wang says. The interdisciplinary nature of the ECEC includes expertise in thermal-fluid transport, electrochemistry, chemical kinetics and reacting flows, computational fluid dynamics, and experimental design and testing.

“There’s a lot of potential in this area,” says Dr. Karen Thole, Professor and Department Head of Penn State’s Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department. “Our team is unique because we can cover all phases of the battery system from the initial materials to the finished product,” she says.

The system of the future may be the lithium-ion battery. They are common in consumer electronics, such as cell phones and laptop computers and are one of the most popular types of rechargeable battery. They are more expensive than other battery types, but operate over a wide temperature range.

In the Summer of 2011, there are plans to move the ECEC into an “Energy Materials Lab,” which will bring together several groups working on various aspects of new energy technologies. “Included in this will be an industry-funded battery manufacturing lab where the new battery materials can be prototyped into real batteries,” says Dr. Carlo Pantano, director of the Materials Research Institute. Bringing these energy and materials experts together under one roof will help Penn State educate and compete in this important area of our energy future, Pantano says.

Donghai Wang also oversees the Energy Nanostructure Laboratory (E-Nano), which focuses on nanomaterial development for clean energy technologies--including batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, and environmental remediation. The nanomaterials are evaluated in fabricated devices such as batteries, solar cells, fuel cells and reactors for clean energy application.

The ECEC has collaborating faculty and researchers from academia, national labs, and many vehicle manufacturers. “Our goal is to develop novel materials and systems of electrochemical energy storage and conversion for a sustainable energy future,” Chao-Yang Wang says.

http://mtrl1.mne.psu.edu | www.mne.psu.edu/dwang

center Building Smarter Batteries to Store Energy

Dr. Chao-Yang Wang

Dr. Donghai Wang

F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 0 T h e I R O n 3

“Our ultimate goal is to transform the commercial building industry,” says Paul Hallacher, Director of Research Program Development at Penn State. “The Navy Yard will provide builders, engineers and designers the ability to work together in a more cohesive effort,” he says. “The building industry has been fragmented. The goal is to adopt solutions that can apply to the general marketplace.”

Improving existing buildings will have a nationwide impact since they currently consume 40 percent of the energy used in the United States. Researchers and engineers will be looking at energy-efficient design that includes advanced lighting systems, heating and air conditioning, façade materials, independent humidity controls, windows that lighten and darken depending on the sunlight available, and onsite power systems. “We’re looking at products that produce electricity, not just consume it,” Hallacher says.

“This will have a huge impact on the nation’s sustainability,” says Dr. Henry C. Foley, Vice President for Research at Penn State and Executive Director of the GPIC/HUB. “This research will have an immediate impact without reorganizing our society and culture. It also goes a long way toward energy security and independence,” he says.

Five Research Teams Will Lead the Way The GPIC/HUB activities are organized and managed by five key research teams or focus areas. They are:

• Design Tools and Processes—Develops and implements integrated design, verification, and modeling tools for energy-efficient building system design.

• Integrated Technologies—Designs and implements advanced components, subsystems, controls, and diagnostics for building systems solutions.

• Policy, Markets and Behavior—Identifies incentives and mechanisms to fully exploit existing building technologies and quickly adopt emerging technologies.

• Education and Workforce—Ensures that the new, innovative energy-efficiency technologies and systems

Penn State has embarked on an ambitious plan to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions of new and existing

buildings, spur innovation, create jobs, and fine-tune a fragmented building industry.

Penn State is one of five co-applicants of the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) for Energy Efficient Buildings, a consortium with a shared history in collaborative, regional technology-based economic development. The GPIC will receive more than $129 million during the next five years from multiple federal agencies. Of the $129 million, Penn State will receive $122 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to lead an Energy Innovation HUB (GPIC/HUB) to develop innovative energy-efficient building technologies, designs and systems.

This grant is believed to be the largest ever provided to an institution in the Commonwealth and the largest in Penn State’s history. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has committed an additional $30 million of new capital funding to support the GPIC/HUB facilities.

The GPIC/HUB is located at The Navy Yard in Philadelphia which spans 1,200 acres. The Navy Yard’s size, infrastructure, and diverse building stock, combined with its future development capacity, make it an ideal location for a

national energy-efficient building initiative. An independent, unregulated electric grid simulates the age, technology and diverse load requirements of larger regional grids. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter also has a seven-year plan to be the “greenest city in America.”

One long-term goal for the GPIC/HUB is to demonstrate a 50 percent energy savings by 2014 in a scalable, repeatable solution that can be affordably applied to a broad spectrum of buildings.

The Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA

Penn State Receives $122 Million for U.S. DOE Energy Innovation HUBNew Designs Promise to Transform the Commercial Building Industry

HUB

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In addition to the 22 members, more than 90 partners have made the commitment to the GPIC/HUB with the goal of national energy independence and regional economic development. Partners include additional corporations, universities, community colleges, and technological institutions. They are not budgeted to receive DOE funding, but are eligible to apply for funding from the $10 million Opportunity Research Fund (ORF). The ORF will provide co-funding for projects that will help advance the goals of the GPIC/HUB. The request for proposals should be issued within the next six months.

Building 661 RetrofitThis historic Building 661 at The Navy Yard has been chosen for the first renovation project, and will undergo a full spectrum energy-efficient retrofit. After the retrofit of Building 661, it will be complimented by a newly constructed facility. Together

these buildings will house GPIC personnel, and function as living laboratories for developing tools and methods to transform the building industry’s current fragmented serial method into integrated team efforts.

Penn State wants to exceed the LEED recommendations that are currently in place for new buildings. LEED–Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design–is an internationally recognized green building certification system. Many new buildings that are being built strive for a LEED designation.

Penn State has been active at The Navy Yard for the past 10 years, operating three other DOE Centers: the Mid-Atlantic Clean Energy Applications Center; the Northern Mid-Atlantic Solar Resource and Training Center; and the GridStar Smart Grid Training Center. All of these centers will complement the GPIC/HUB.

www.gpichub.org

created by the GPIC/HUB are supported by a robust human capital infrastructure.

• Deployment and Commercialization—Facilitates the transfer of all GPIC/HUB discoveries, assists in the resolution of disputes, and fosters new cluster partnership opportunities as they arise. Demonstrates and deploys intellectual property (IP) management associated with the buildings and energy sector.

“All sectors of the building industry will be sitting down together–mechanical, plumbing, electrical–with architectural engineers and energy-efficiency experts to decide what design is best for a building,” Hallacher says.

This project will also generate tremendous opportunities for students, says Dr. Chimay Anumba, Professor and Department Head of Architectural Engineering (AE) at Penn State. “This includes access to cutting-edge research

developments, exposure to research leaders in the field, high-value case studies, and GPIC-based projects.” The GPIC proposal originated in the AE Department as Anumba wanted to position the department as the premier education and research center for high performance green buildings.

Members and Partners Commit to ProjectBoth members and partners are engaged in this initiative with Penn State. The 22 members will contribute funding and are also slated to receive DOE funding, as well as funding from other contributors. GPIC/HUB team members include researchers from 11 academic institutions, two DOE laboratories, five industry partners, regional economic development agencies, and community colleges. All member organizations will maintain key, full-time personnel at The Navy Yard.

Penn State Receives $122 Million for U.S. DOE Energy Innovation HUBNew Designs Promise to Transform the Commercial Building Industry

F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 0 T h e I R O n 5

Dr. Henry C. “Hank” Foley is a multi-tasker who enjoys being overstimulated, as he balances his current dual position with Penn State. He just completed his first year as Vice President for Research and Dean of The Graduate School. This two-fold position

has yielded challenges but no great surprises, he says. “Penn State has prepared me well for the volume of issues that I see on a day-to-day basis.”

Prior to this position, he was Dean of the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at Penn State from 2006 to 2009, and had served as head of the Department of Chemical Engineering. He has also served as the University’s associate vice president for research and director of strategic initiatives. Before coming to University Park, he was a professor of chemical engineering at the University of Delaware.

Foley’s role in the graduate school includes responsibility for more than 9,000 graduate students in more than 150 graduate degree programs, including 121 doctorate, 110 academic master’s, and 73 professional master’s degree programs. In the National Research Council’s 2010 rankings, Penn State ranks seventh in the nation overall in terms of its graduate programs. “It’s a remarkable time of rejuvenation for us,” Foley says.

One of Foley’s goals for the graduate side is to keep pursuing dual title degrees. “It’s an innovative way to challenge graduates and faculty. This weaving together of two fields that complement each other allows students to achieve great depth in two areas,” he says. One example is the student who has a dual degree in engineering and business.

On the research side, Foley wants to maintain Penn State’s research expertise and integrity. Foley oversaw about $780 million in research expenditures this past year. Penn State ranks ninth overall in public universities in terms of research funding, according to the National Science Foundation. A typical grant’s timeline could be anywhere from 6 months to 4 years.

Current major research initiatives include the Millennium Science Complex and the new Hershey medical campus that is planned for the University. The Science Complex, slated for completion in the summer of 2011, will overlap materials science with life sciences, and will also include informational sciences. The Hershey medical campus will house medical clinicians from Hershey at Penn State University Park. Foley is also Executive Director of the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster for Energy Efficient Buildings HUB (GPIC/HUB), a U.S. DOE Energy Innovation HUB led by Penn State. Penn State will receive $122 million from DOE during the next five years to develop innovative energy-efficient building technologies, designs and systems.

Foley spent about 15 years on the industrial consulting side, which prepared him well for working with corporations and obtaining private funding for research. “We are very strong in corporate-funded research,” Foley says. His extensive industrial experience includes working for American Cyanamid and consulting with Air Products, Monsanto, DuPont, Engelhard Corporation, and many other companies.

These relationships have encouraged his desire to roll out new company ventures by transferring University innovations to new or existing companies where it can be commercialized and marketed. With the tough economic times, Penn State’s research funding from corporations has basically remained stable, according to Foley. “This is remarkable considering the economy.”

Penn State also received $120 million in stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. One challenge with this federal funding is to continue to update the University’s information systems. “There will be a higher level of scrutiny and accountability from the government about how universities are spending their funding dollars. We need to continue to cast ourselves in the best light possible and make sure our research engine continues to run efficiently. That includes reporting details on how we spend this money. And I don’t think this level of scrutiny is going to go away.”

Dr. Hank Foley | hcf2@psu.edu | www.research.psu.edu

Dr. Hank Foley Balances Two Roles at Penn State

Architect’s rendering of the Millennium Science Complex, scheduled to open in summer 2011.

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events

Globalcon 2011Pennsylvania Convention Center • Philadelphia, PA • March 30-31, 2011

Members of the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) for Energy Efficient Buildings, the Penn State led U.S. DOE Energy Innovation HUB, will be attending Globalcon 2011. Globalcon, presented by the Association of Energy Engineers, is designed specifically to facilitate those who need to get up to speed on the latest developments in the energy field, explore promising new technologies, compare energy supply options, and learn about innovative and cost-conscious project implementation strategies.

Stay tuned to the GPIC/HUB website for more information.

www.gpichub.org/events

community Wind across america conferenceThe Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel • State College, PA • February 8-9, 2011

N O T E T H E N E W D A T E F O R T H I S E V E N T , F E B R U A R Y 8 - 9 , 2 0 1 1

This regional conference will bring agriculture and wind energy together to advance opportunities for locally-owned clean energy production and rural economic development. Attendees will share experiences and information to harness the growing momentum for new models, new policies, and new projects. We will:

• Present and discuss innovative financial models and business structures for community wind energy development.

• Identify public policies that benefit community wind energy and address barriers to its expansion.

• Further the dialogue on how to add value for communities from wind development through enhanced participation, ownership, business opportunities, and local benefits.

• Convene experts to provide practical tools and sound information on how to develop community wind projects and small wind turbines.

The conference is recommended for farmers, ranchers, rural landowners, economic development professionals, elected officials, business leaders, tribal representatives, investors, bankers, town planners, community leaders and any other interested individuals.

www.windustry.org/cwaa

past events

Penn State Energy Day in Washington - Presentations are OnlineWashington, DC • November 19, 2010

Penn State Energy Day in Washington, hosted by the United States Energy Association, was held on November 19, 2010 in our nation’s capital. The event hosted an audience comprised of congressional staff; U.S. government agency staff; media, industry, and Penn State alumni.

The event included an overview of Penn State energy research by Dr. Hank Foley, Vice President for Research at the University. Presentations were also given on the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC) for Energy Efficient Buildings; the future of transportation fuels; the new age of U.S. electricity; shale gas; the Marcellus resource; and more.

Visit our website to view the presentations.

www.research.psu.edu/events/2010/penn-state-energy-day

F a l l / W i n t e r 2 0 1 0 T h e I R O n 7

High-Energy Glass capacitors to Power More Efficient Hybrid Electric VehiclesInventors: Michael T. Lanagan; Carlo G. Pantano; Nicholas Smith; Ramakrishnan Rajagopalan; Hoi Kwan LeePenn State Invention Disclosure No. 3607

Penn State inventors have made a high-energy glass dielectric utilizing commercial flat-panel display glass, discovering that thin glass sheets with an alkali-free composition have exceptionally high dielectric breakdown strength (12 MV/cm) and electrostatic energy density values as high as 38 Joules per cubic centimeter.

Invention UsesThe glass capacitors covered by this invention have the potential to power more efficient electric vehicles and to serve as high energy density capacitor materials for portable or pulsed power applications, such as heart defibrillators. The researchers continue to conduct research on this invention, including addressing scale-up issues.

Invention Advantages• Highest-measured breakdown strength for bulk glass, with

benign failure and self-healing• Thinner than currently available solutions, with 3x greater

energy density

Contact For Licensing InformationMatthew Smith, Sr. Technology Licensing OfficerPenn State Intellectual Property Officemds126@psu.edu • 814-863-1122

Learn more at www.research.psu.edu/ipo/technologies/3607

Discover 260 more licensable technologies on our websitewww.research.psu.edu/technologies

The Innovation Park at Penn State

Featured InventionInnovation Park at Penn State is a 118-acre business park that provides companies with multiple real estate options and access to Penn State resources and the support services.

www.innovationpark.psu.edu

This publication is available in alternative media on request. The Penn-sylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employ-ment without regard to personal characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by University policy or by state or federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment. The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against any person because of age, ancestry, color, dis-ability or handicap, national origin, race, religious creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. Discrimination or ha-rassment against faculty, staff or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the nondis-crimination policy to the Affirmative Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802-2801, Tel (814) 865-4700/V, (814) 863-1150/TTY. U.Ed. RES 11-16.

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