Nanotechnology company Xanofi has been awarded a $150,000 phase I small business innovation research grant to build a working prototype of a new technology for spraying nanofibers.

The Raleigh company, which spun out of N.C. State University, specializes in the production of nanofibers. It’s patented technique, called XanoShear, could produce nanofibers at lower cost and higher yields compared to current production methods.

The SBIR grant will enable Xanofi to build a nanofiber spraying system, called Xanofi, that can apply nanofibers faster than current technologies. In the abstract of the SBIR award, Xanofi says the technology could have applications in the $6.6 billion air filtration market as well as acoustics applications, improving efficiency and reducing costs.

“The broader impact of developing nanofiber spraying capabilities will make the US nonwoven industry more competitive worldwide and improve North Carolina’s economy through job creation,” Xanofi said.