I don't know either what problems come up when going from lab to commercial application. Have to confess ignorance there.
I remember proposals based on small scale experiments that were deep-sixed by engineers, or cost analysts, or governmental regulations. Of course situations change and interest renewed, data are never lost.
I'm sure that the atomic research guys at Los Alamos National Laboratory never quit looking, but according to the papers, they are having trouble with nuclear waste even there. Complaints about water being contaminated and other problems.