Altair Nanotechnologies and NTera file joint patent.

Altair International, Inc. (Reno, NV; 949-566-9860) and NTera Ltd. (Dublin, Ireland), the nanotechnology group, announced that they have filed a joint patent and have agreed to continue working together to further develop nanosized lithium titanate spinel materials for use in rechargeable lithium ion batteries.

NTera and Altair believe that low cost nanostructured batteries will make hybrid electric power a realistic alternative to the internal combustion engine for vehicles and will have a significant affect on the ongoing development within the hybrid automobile industry.

The nanostructured batteries also target a more immediate and fast-growing sector within the battery industry -- batteries for portable products such as laptop computers, cell phones, forklifts, wheelchairs and cordless power tools. According to industry expert Telcordia Technologies, this growing sector within the battery industry represented a $6 billion market as early as 1999.

The new patent is the result of 12 months work between scientists at Altair and Xoliox, the Swiss-based nanomaterials firm acquired by NTera in October 2001. The team was assisted in its work by scientists at the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne and the J. Heyrovsky Institute.

The companies believe they have identified the optimal range of particle sizes for the material to be used in lithium ion batteries. This is a major event in the development of a new generation of lithium ion batteries where traditional electrode materials are replaced with nanostructured metal oxides. One such material is the nanocrystalline lithium titanate spinel, which Altair can produce, economically in commercial quantities.

"Xoliox and Altair share a common goal of delivering lithium ion batteries that will offer repeat charge and discharge rates far in excess of anything available today," commented Altair president Dr. William P. Long.

"By working together we can utilize our complementary expertise and technology to expedite the delivery of this next generation technology to a myriad of industries, including the hybrid automobile industry."

"The combination of Altair's ability to produce a wide range of pure spinel materials and Xoliox's understanding of how to apply nanomaterials in batteries make this a natural partnership," noted Professor Michael Graetzel of the Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne, himself a founder of Xoliox and member of NTera's Senior Advisory Board. "This latest research and the resulting patent application bring the commercial deployment of nano-engineered lithium battery technology a clear step nearer to realization. We are delighted to have played a part in this alongside Altair, Xoliox and the J. Heyrovsky Institute."

NTera Ltd, formerly Nanomat, was founded in April 1997 as a spin off from University College (Dublin, Ireland) to develop and commercialize nanotechnology. NTera acquired Xoliox in October 2001. Xoliox is an established leader in the development of innovative nanostructured materials to deliver battery technology, which is faster, safer and more cost effective. The batteries, which are based on unique lithiated metal oxide nanomaterials, will have a major impact on the powering of electric vehicles, power tools and other portable applications.

NTera has also developed a strong intellectual property position in the area of nanostructured films and key technologies currently under development. These technologies include: 1) NanoChromics -- a paper quality display technology for the ICT sector, and 2) NanoLyte -- a diagnostic sensor for the Healthcare sector. NTera is backed by Cross Atlantic Capital Partners and Evolution Capital.

Nanotechnology is rapidly emerging as a unique industry sector. Altair Nanotechnologies is positioning itself through product innovation within this emerging industry to become a leading supplier of nanomaterials worldwide. Altair owns a proprietary technology for making nanocrystalline materials of unique quality both economically and in large quantities. The company is currently developing special nanomaterials with potential applications in fuel cells, solar cells, advanced energy storage devices, thermal spray coatings, catalysts, cosmetics, paints and environmental remediation.