Intellectual Property
The patent for QuantumSphere’s platform GPC process was awarded October 16, 2007 and includes seventy-three broad claims on the manufacturing system that produces advanced metals and catalysts at the nano scale. Additional patent applications have been filed covering composition of nano alloys, unique dispersions/formulations, process chemistries, several commercial electrochemical devices (batteries, fuel cells, solar and hydrogen generation), as well as other clean-energy applications enabled by the use of QSI’s advanced catalyst materials.

Competing Technologies
Synthetic or man-made nano scale materials were first created in the 1970’s using the gas phase condensation method. Today, there are dozens of processes for producing nano scale materials worldwide, including chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, reactive sputtering, laser pyrolysis, plasma gun spray conversion, mechanical alloying, grinding and sol gel. These processes are expensive and require sophisticated and complex equipment and labor-intensive maintenance. They may also result in products with inconsistent particle size, distribution, shape and impurities with little ability to scale up to commercial quantities at reasonable prices. QSI’s

Process
Because QSI’s patented process is safe, environmentally friendly and fully automated, it requires minimal supervision and suffers little down time for reactor maintenance. The unique process literally removes the potential for human error and expensive labor from the manufacturing equation. Increased production rates combined with lower labor and conversion costs enable commercial application of these advanced materials by industry leading companies for multiple consumer and industrial products. The ability to deliver high quality nano scale catalysts in commercial quantities at reasonable prices allows QSI and its partners to attain mass market penetration and accelerated commercialization of these new advanced materials.

Quality Control & Customization
Our primary focus is to produce ultra-fine advanced materials and catalysts that enhance the performance of our customers’ end-use products. We manufacture our metal and metal alloy nanoparticles according to customers’ specifications and maintain a very narrow particle size range. In order to ensure the quality of our product, we analyze each batch before it is shipped using analytical techniques such as: BET surface area measurement, TGA thermal analysis for oxide shell thickness, x-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and electron microscopy. Batch sizes can be adjusted to the requirements of our customers.

Environmentally Friendly
QSI manufactures the highest quality nano scale metal catalysts in the industry without compromising its commitment, either to employee safety or the environment. Our manufacturing facility and production process personnel follow strict NIOSH best practice guidelines for handling nanomaterials. Accordingly, no hazardous chemicals or toxic gases are used in our manufacturing process, and no solid, liquid or hazardous waste stream is generated. By utilizing electricity and helium gas, the result is a greater than 85% yield of high quality nano scale catalysts from feedstock; unprocessed raw metals are completely recyclable.