PRESS CONTACT:
Joe Romano – Partner
HighGround, Inc.
781-279-1320 x 208
[email protected]

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 the leading manufacturer of metallic nanopowders for applications in the aerospace, defense, energy, biomedical and other markets demanding advanced material applications. QuantumSphere’s exclusive manufacturing process provides: consistent, narrow particle size distribution; low level of agglomeration and impurities; custom-tailored oxide shell thickness; and the highest purity metallic nanopowders on the market that are easier to transport and handle. The company manufactures the highest quality of metallic nanopowder in the industry without compromising its commitment to the environment. No other company offers these performance advantages.

QuantumSphere is the only supplier of the world’s highest quality nanonickel (n-Ni). This will replace platinum as the main catalyst in hydrogen fuel cells and various electrode assemblies and provide a renewable source of power to supply the world’s energy needs. The company is leveraging its leading market position in nanonickel (n-Ni) to manufacture and ship product for applications in fuel cells, magnetic medical products (e.g., contrast agent that is orders-of-magnitude more sensitive than existing materials for MRI detection of disease and organ function), bio sensors, filtration devices and other applications including additives for plastics and electromagnetic frequency shielding.

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