High-T Tech

HighT-Tech, Inc. operates at the intersection of materials science and industrial decarbonization, leveraging a proprietary electrified, ultrafast, high-temperature shock (UHS) synthesis process. Founded in 2018, the company emerged from research conducted at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Johns Hopkins University. The founding technology was developed by Liangbing Hu, a distinguished professor at the University of Maryland, and Chao Wang, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins University. The company is led by CEO Bob Gatte, an industry veteran with a 30-year career at W.R. Grace, who joined after participating in the Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator (MEIA) program in 2021.

The core of HighT-Tech's business is its UHS platform, a manufacturing process that creates non-equilibrium materials. This technology can produce materials with distinct properties in a matter of seconds, a significant reduction from the hours required by conventional methods. The business model centers on commercializing unique products derived from this process for clients in the chemical, heavy industrial, and specialty products markets. A primary application and the company's initial target market is the production of advanced catalysts for the $35 billion global catalyst market, specifically for fertilizer production. These catalysts reportedly use 95 percent less platinum than incumbent materials, which mitigates the scarcity risks and costs associated with platinum group metals while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions during production.

The company's product portfolio extends beyond catalysts to include materials with applications such as battery and electrolyzer membranes and high-temperature barrier coatings for spacecraft. HighT-Tech's process enables the rapid synthesis of various materials, including ceramics and high entropy alloys, positioning it as a materials discovery platform. Revenue is generated through the sale of these specialized materials and by forming strategic partnerships for product development. For instance, the company is collaborating with Abbot Furnace Company to develop the custom equipment needed to produce its catalysts at a commercial scale. As of July 2024, HighT-Tech had secured over $12 million in combined federal and private funding, including a $3 million seed round led by Taihill Venture, to accelerate its commercialization efforts and launch its first commercial product.

Keywords: materials synthesis, decarbonization, electrified heating, ultrafast high-temperature shock, non-equilibrium materials, industrial catalysts, platinum group metals reduction, fertilizer production, high entropy alloys, specialty chemicals, clean technologies, advanced materials, University of Maryland spin-off, Johns Hopkins University spin-off, sustainable manufacturing, chemical industry solutions, heavy industry decarbonization, battery membranes, electrolyzer components, aerospace coatings