The discoveries 鈥� each of them unrelated 鈥� will be presented at the 2015 TechConnect World Innovation Conference in Washington, D.C., from June 14-17. The annual event is designed to accelerate the commercialization of innovations out of the lab and into industry, and draws some of the brightest and most innovative researchers, funding agencies, national labs, international research organizations, universities, investors and corporate partners.

The 麻豆原创 discoveries are among the top 20 percent of submittals selected to receive TechConnect Innovation Awards. The technologies include:

Another member of the 麻豆原创 faculty, Jayan Thomas, will speak at the conference. Thomas, an assistant professor with the NanoScience Technology Center,聽the聽College of Optics and Photonics and the聽, was a finalist for a prestigious 2014 World Technology Network Award for his research on cables that can store and transmit energy.

麻豆原创 researchers at the began work on the breakthrough technology, a color-changing tape to visually detect hydrogen leaks, under a grant from NASA鈥檚 Glenn Research Center. Use of hydrogen as industrial feedstock in the chemical industry and fuel for space exploration carries the risk of a destructive accident if a hydrogen leak 鈥� able to burn at more than 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit when ignited with as little as a static spark 鈥� isn鈥檛 pinpointed and fixed quickly.

Potentially dangerous leaks in environments like a shuttle launch pad are hard to detect because hydrogen is odorless and colorless. By wrapping leak-susceptible areas with the new tape, leaks can be 鈥渟een鈥� with a color change in the presence of hydrogen.

The color-changing concept for a visual cue was conceived by 麻豆原创鈥檚 Ali Raissi, Ph.D., who developed a chemochromic pigment (a type of pigment that changes color in the presence of a particular chemical) with a team of scientists including Nahid Mohajeri, Ph.D., who would later bring the invention to market.

The 麻豆原创 team sent its original tape and pigment to NASA engineers who tested it for use on the launch pad, and incorporated the pigment into other materials including textiles used to make space suits.

The invention鈥檚 novelty is backed by four issued patents and five pending patent applications, including international applications. The university鈥檚 Office of Technology Transfer protects innovations developed by faculty and students by filing for patents that are 鈥榯ransferred鈥� to companies through licenses, thus bringing new products to market and attracting more funding to 麻豆原创.

麻豆原创 and NASA filed patents separately on aspects of the technology and signed an agreement to bundle and jointly commercialize the technology. This is a significant step toward making it available to the gamut of industries where hydrogen leaks pose a threat, including aerospace, power generation, and energy storage.

Searching for a partner to commercialize the technology, 麻豆原创 found a match with Mohajeri, a member of the original research team, who founded HySense Technology and introduced the award-winning hydrogen detection tape to the market. On November 7, 麻豆原创, NASA Kennedy, and HySense will be recognized internationally at the R&D 100 banquet and award presentation held at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

HySense Technology, founded by 麻豆原创 Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) researcher Nahid Mohajeri, produces and markets an intelligent tape that changes color in the presence of hydrogen and other gases.

鈥淭his is real validation, just the fact that people, the judges, believe in us,鈥� Mohajeri said.

Mohajeri worked with the research team led by Ali Raissi at FSEC that developed the technology to detect hydrogen leaks wherever hydrogen is stored, transported, or transferred as part of a $20 million grant from NASA鈥檚 Glenn Research Center. Her company later licensed the technology from 麻豆原创.

HySense is marketing a specialty beige tape that turns black when hydrogen is detected. It can be wrapped around or attached to surfaces where gas might leak. Mohajeri has five customers so far, and is aiming for $90,000 total revenue this year.

鈥淭o have an awards program like this in Central Florida is huge,鈥� Mohajeri added. 鈥淎s scientists, we are very much aware that low wages are an issue in the region. But these awards can bring more high-paying jobs here. When people see that we have this level of support that makes a difference.鈥�

The CAT5 competition is hosted by Space Florida and 麻豆原创. It showcases tech companies in the Southeast and attracts venture funding for entrepreneurs.

鈥淭he CAT5 awards support the idea that technology businesses are a key component to the enhancement of Florida鈥檚 future innovation and economic growth.鈥� said Tom O鈥橬eal, associate vice president of research & commercialization at 麻豆原创. 鈥淗ySense is a clear example of such as success story.鈥�

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