InStep NanoPower LLC Information

InStep NanoPower, LLC specializes in developing nanotechnology-based solutions in the areas of renewable energy, nanofabrication, and micro and nano-fluidics. The novel nanostructures that we develop create a foundation for revolutionary advances in a broad range of applications including high-power energy harvesting, biological and chemical sensors, and superhydrophobic, self-cleaning and anti-icing surfaces. The main focus of our work is to commercialize a radically new high-power energy harvesting technology, which we have recently demonstrated. We are currently targeting several early applications of this technology including energy harvesting from human locomotion with the overall goal of providing users of mobile electronics with a robust inexhaustible high-power energy source capable of delivering up to 20 W of usable power. Our research and development is supported by private investors and public agencies including United States National Science Foundation (NSF) and European Research Council (ERC). Our customers and partners include Wisconsin Center for Applied Microelectronics (WCAM) and ICx Technologies. InStep NanoPower research team is headed by Dr. Tom Krupenkin, company President who also holds professorship appointment at the Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Dr. J. Ashley Taylor, company Vice President and a senior staff scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Our team has over 50 years of combined experience in micro and nano-fabrication, microfluidics, and semiconductor processing, published numerous papers and filed over 60 patents in these areas. Through our collaboration with Wisconsin Center for Applied Microelectronics we have access to the state of the art nanofabriaction and materials characterization facilities at WCAM which are rated among the best in the country. Detailed description of these facilities can be found in R&D Facilities Section of our website.