QuantumSphere News Releases

Industry Veteran to Validate QuantumSphere Inc.’s Nanopowders as Company Continues to Manufacture Mass Quantities of the World’s Highest Quality Nanonickel to Replace Platinum as a Catalyst in Fuel Cells and in Other Applications

COSTA MESA, CA, U.S.A. – April 26, 2005 – QuantumSphere, Inc., the leading manufacturer of metallic nanopowders, working toward catalyzing the future for fuel cells, batteries, and hydrogen generation, is moving forward with the collaboration of Robert Dopp, of Doppstein Enterprises, Inc. (DSE). Together they are testing QuantumSphere’s new line of nano-catalysts in functioning air electrodes to better identify significant parameters in the development cycle. Mr. Dopp has developed a cathode manufacturing process expressly designed to manufacture small “coupons” of highly uniform, very active and reproducible gas diffusion electrodes. These are typically used in metal air batteries, alkaline fuel cells, other air breathing systems as well as hydrogen generation cells. By producing the finished product from the new generation of catalyst, QuantumSphere can engineer their particle size distribution, composition and distribution to optimum performance. This is something that quantitative and physical measurements cannot achieve; the collaborative efforts of QuantumSphere and DSE can.

“We are extremely pleased to work with Robert Dopp who is an industry veteran in the fuel cell, battery and related industries,” said Kevin Maloney, CEO, QuantumSphere, Inc. “During his three decades of battery R&D;, resulting in 36 related patents bearing his name, he has designed several production air cathode machines, making the highest rate air cathode in the world. He has helped to develop a consumer battery with over four times the energy density of Alkaline cylindrical cells, and many tens of times higher energy than many rechargeable batteries,” Maloney added.

The efficient generation of hydrogen from a source other than petroleum (i.e. Hydrolysis cells) and the efficient conversion of hydrogen into energy (i.e. Fuel cells) are two of the most pressing needs of the century. Platinum is currently the only known catalyst to satisfy this development need and there is not enough platinum available in the world. Through this twofold effort between QSI and DSE, we hope to electrochemically demonstrate that nano-materials are an excellent replacement for platinum.

“QuantumSphere is one of the leaders in the race to develop catalysts that do not contain platinum. To achieve this goal, they have developed a line of pure nickel, copper, silver and other metallic nanoparticles” said Robert Dopp. “Their unique process also allows for the production of nano-sized catalysts utilizing the active cobalt nickel oxides and chelated cobalt cyclic-porphyrins. This development is not only exciting – but what they are doing is vital,” Dopp added.

QuantumSphere produces the highest quality and quantity of nanonickel in the world. Nanonickel has the potential to replace platinum as the main catalytic material in a variety of hydrogen fuel cells. A shift from platinum to QSI-nanoTM nickel would result in a reduction in the cost of fuel cell and electrode catalysts by over 75%, based on current prices. The news follows QuantumSphere’s announcement earlier in the year that it completed the buildout of a large-scale reactor for the production of nanonickel (n-Ni) that will be used to produce a renewable source of power to supply the world’s energy needs.

About QuantumSphere, Inc.
QuantumSphere is a leading manufacturer of nanoscale metals and alloys for applications in energy, electronics, aerospace, defense and other markets demanding advanced materials. The Company’s proprietary technology enables the production of ultra-pure, highly uniform nanometals and alloys under 100nm in high volume at commercial prices to unlock a large number of new applications and sources of revenue for firms around the world. QuantumSphere has created a fully automated, highly scalable process to supply these advanced materials in mass quantity. The Company has also created an extensive intellectual property portfolio around its process capabilities and end-use commercial applications.

QuantumSphere leverages its capabilities to manufacture and ship high performance catalyst materials. The current global catalyst market is in excess of $20B, annually. The Company is providing catalyst materials and electrode devices for applications such as batteries, micro fuel cells, and hydrogen generation and storage. QuantumSphere accomplishes this without compromising its commitment to the environment and the community. No other known company offers these performance advantages.

For more information, visit www.qsinano.com or contact Joe Romano, Partner, HighGround, Inc. at 781-279-1320 x 208 or [email protected].