Nanomaterials Discovery Corp. (NDC, Laramie, WY) announced that it will receive $2.5 million from the US Department of Defense (DOD) in fiscal year 2005. NDC is working with the Army Material Command at Picatinny Arsenal to use nanotechnology to produce a new class of fuel cells powered by high energy materials such as propellants and explosives.
The nanotechnologies developed by NDC under this program will be used to produce portable power devices for soldiers and enable development of miniature power supplies for fusing and arming munitions. Also envisioned, are "self-sterilizing" smart land mines that render themselves harmless after a certain period of time. The nanotechnologies developed under the program could be used to enable the reuse of obsolete ammunition by converting its explosive components into electrical power.
