The Power of Partnerships
DIMIEN, INC.
UB helps commercialize two green technologies
As Dimien, a leader in advanced materials technologies, developed an innovative window coating designed to regulate building temperatures, the company’s discoveries led to a new product: batteries with more charge. The University at Buffalo provided ongoing support to help the company pivot its focus toward this breakthrough technology.
How Dimien collaborates with UB
Accelerates R&D
Recruits Talent
Collaborates with Experts
Uses High-tech Equipment
Accesses Funding
Operates Tax Free
Incubator Cllient
Entrepreneurial Programs
Startup Support
CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY
Renewable energy’s environmental impacts
Clean energy can be messy business. While the technologies that power solar panels and electric vehicles ultimately aim to reduce reliance on dirtier fossil fuels, the manufacturing processes behind green tech produce their own share of environmental concerns. These include invasive mining practices in conflict-prone countries to source the raw materials used to make solar technologies and manufacturing processes that create huge volumes of wastewater laced with toxic solvents.
SOLUTION & OUTCOME
Clean nanomaterial manufacturing
Dimien’s first product, a window film that controls solar heat gain by sensing temperature changes and adapting to either reflect or transmit heat, helps occupants save energy on heating and cooling and led the company to develop an innovative method for making nanomaterials with minimal environmental waste and energy. Dimien’s process doesn’t require any of the toxic solvents typically used in nanomaterial manufacturing, so wastewater comes out clean and reusable.
Dimien is now using that same process to develop its newest focus: electric vehicle batteries. The lithium-ion batteries incorporate a chemical element called vanadium that not only helps increase the battery’s safety and longevity with reduced charging times, but it’s abundance both domestically and internationally further reduces environmental impact.
UB SUPPORT
Startup support from R&D to product launch
Dimien was founded by UB graduate students whose laboratory discoveries in solar-responsive window films became the company’s catalyst. UB helped the inventors transfer those discoveries into a commercial technology, equipped them with shared instrumentation services and incubator space to advance product development, and provided co-funding to explore new advanced materials in cleantech. When Dimien’s newest discoveries shifted the company’s focus toward battery technologies, UB championed the switch with startup resources and partnership with an entrepreneur in residence, who provides mentorship and business support.
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