NanoGram Corporation

About

NanoGram Corporation, established in 1996 in Milpitas, California, has developed innovative nanomaterial synthesis technologies focused on producing functional inks and pastes for printed electronics, solar cells, and battery applications. With $50+ million in funding and 50-100 employees, NanoGram pioneered laser pyrolysis techniques that enable the production of highly controlled nanoparticles with unique properties optimized for energy applications. The company's core technology platform uses high-intensity laser beams to vaporize and rapidly cool precursor materials, creating nanoparticles with precise size, composition, and crystallinity not achievable through conventional synthesis methods. This sophisticated approach allows NanoGram to engineer materials at the atomic level, tailoring electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties for specific applications. NanoGram's product portfolio includes conductive inks for printed electronic circuits, photovoltaic pastes for solar cell metallization, and battery materials incorporating silicon nanoparticles for enhanced lithium-ion battery anodes. In the solar industry, the company developed nanoparticle-based pastes that improve electrical contact formation in crystalline silicon solar cells, potentially increasing cell efficiency while reducing manufacturing costs. Their silicon nanoparticle battery materials address a long-standing challenge in lithium-ion batteries—silicon's enormous volume expansion during lithium insertion. By engineering silicon at the nanoscale, NanoGram creates materials that accommodate volume changes while maintaining electrical connectivity, enabling higher-energy-density batteries. The company's printable electronic inks represent another significant application area, allowing low-cost, high-throughput manufacturing of electronic components through printing processes rather than traditional lithography. NanoGram works closely with manufacturers to integrate their nanomaterials into existing production lines, providing not just materials but also process integration expertise. The company's emphasis on manufacturability distinguishes it from pure research-focused nanotechnology companies—their materials are designed for scale-up and cost-effective production. Throughout its history, NanoGram has adapted its technology platform to address evolving market needs, shifting focus between solar, battery, and electronics applications as industries mature. The company exemplifies how advanced nanomaterial synthesis can enable disruptive manufacturing technologies, potentially transforming energy and electronics production through printable, solution-processable functional materials. As industries increasingly seek sustainable, low-cost manufacturing methods, NanoGram's approach to nanomaterial-enabled printed functionality offers promising pathways for next-generation product manufacturing.