Ilika plc Grant of Fuel Cell Catalyst Patents in USA (4579J)
29 June 2017 - 4:00PM
UK Regulatory
TIDMIKA
RNS Number : 4579J
Ilika plc
29 June 2017
Ilika plc
("Ilika" or the "Company")
Grant of Fuel Cell Catalyst Patents in USA
Ilika (AIM: IKA), a pioneer in solid-state battery technology
and materials innovation, announces the grant of three patents
covering catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells in the USA. These
patents cover a type of catalyst known as "Core-Shell Catalysts",
where the catalyst is the coating on nano-scale spherical
particles, like the hard shell on a golf ball.
Catalysts are key to ensuring the efficiency and reliability of
fuel cells. The catalysts must therefore be stable in the
aggressive acidic environment created within hydrogen fuel cells,
whilst highly active in promoting the chemical reactions necessary
for converting hydrogen and oxygen into electricity and water.
Core-Shell Nanostructured Catalysts typically have a relatively
low-cost and stable core, which is then coated with a thin layer
(shell) of the active catalyst. The Company's patented catalysts
have mixed metal oxide (ceramic) cores covered in platinum. The
three wholly owned granted patents were originally filed in January
2013. The Company had previously undertaken a joint development
project with Toyota examining other catalyst materials which
resulted in an earlier jointly-owned patent filing, which has since
gone to grant in Japan and is currently being processed in other
jurisdictions.
Commenting on the patents granted, Graeme Purdy, Ilika CEO,
said: "Whilst our solid-state battery programme is our key focus,
our materials discovery platform is generating innovative,
patentable materials with a variety of applications. The pace of
innovation in the automotive industry has never been greater as
companies compete to develop increasingly more energy-efficient,
low emission vehicles. While electrical hybrid vehicles using
battery technology have captured the largest share of the
low-emission market at this point and fully battery-powered
electric vehicles are also seeing strong take-up, fuel cell
vehicles offer the advantage of long driving range, which justifies
the development of key technologies such as low-cost, robust
catalysts."
For more information contact:
Ilika plc www.ilika.com
Graeme Purdy, Chief Executive Tel: 023 8011 1400
Steve Boydell, Finance Director
Numis Securities Limited Tel: 020 7260 1000
Oliver Cardigan/ Paul Gillam
/
James Black
Walbrook PR Ltd Tel: 020 7933 8780 / ilika@walbrookpr.com
Paul Cornelius Mob: 07866 384 707
Lianne Cawthorne Mob: 07584 391 303
Notes to Editors
A fuel cell is an electrochemical conversion device that
produces electricity without combustion of the fuel. Hydrogen is
the most common energy supply for a fuel cell as it has the right
electrochemistry and the exhaust product is water. Many fuel cells
under development, particularly for transport and electronics
applications, use platinum-based electrodes. While platinum works
well, it is a very scarce element and therefore expensive. Membrane
electrode assemblies, of which platinum is the principal cost,
typically make up 40% of the cost of a fuel cell. The end-market
for fuel cell technology is still in its infancy. However, the
development of platinum-lean catalysts could significantly
accelerate the development of this market. Several automotive
companies, including Toyota and BMW, include fuel cell vehicles in
their future road maps.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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