QuantumSphere Inc. Files Patents Covering Company's Nano Catalyst Technology

Energy Resource,  Oct 19, 2006  

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ENERGY RESOURCE-19 October 2006-QuantumSphere Inc. Files Patents Covering Company's Nano Catalyst Technology(C)2006 JeraOne - http://www.jeraone.com

QuantumSphere Inc., a manufacturer of nanoscale metals and alloys for applications in portable power, renewable energy and other markets, has filed two patents covering composition of matter and a paper-thin electrode device.

The device is responsible for achieving a 320% increase in power and efficiency for zinc-air battery cathodes.

The patent filings follow the company's recently published summary results for low-cost, efficient hydrogen production.

"In order to accelerate the adoption of these highly active nano catalyst materials in disruptive solutions for portable power and clean-energy applications, it is critical that significant strides be made in the performance, cost effectiveness and environmental benefits of these devices and processes," said Kevin Maloney, CEO, QuantumSphere.

"These are the fundamental requirements that will enable all participants throughout the value chain to gain tangible advantages from the commercialization of portable power and other clean, renewable energy sources," Maloney said. "We are actively working with some of the world's largest corporations to collaborate on achieving those goals, and these filings are the latest step in that ongoing process."

With these latest patent applications, QuantumSphere said it is tapping into "a potential multi-billion-dollar battery market" with the goal of delivering what it describes as "significant performance enhancement" to disposable zinc-air batteries.

Primary zinc-air batteries offer three- to six-times the energy of equivalent sized alkaline and rechargeable batteries.

Electrochemist and lead scientist on the air electrode project, Robert Dopp of DoppStein Enterprises Inc., conducted the electrode development effort and validated the effectiveness of QuantumSphere's nano catalysts.

"These improvements unlock higher power applications previously viewed as impractical for this class of battery," said Dopp. "QSI and DSE collaborated to find the most effective catalyst and several successful ways to implement it into gas-diffusion electrodes. The resulting performance improvement is unambiguous."

Additionally, the technology supports the elimination of mercury. The European Union has recently mandated that all batteries must remove this toxic substance, and the EPA is expected to follow shortly.

For more information, visit www.qsinano.com.

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