Laboratory scale test bed at Lion Battery Technologies. (Photo: Lion)
Platinum Group Metals Ltd. and subsidiary Lion Battery Technologies Inc. reported they have been granted a U.S. patent for the use of platinum group metals and carbon nanotubes in a lithium battery. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued the patent entitled “Battery Cathodes for Improved Stability” to Florida International University (FIU), which has a sponsored agreement with Lion for the exclusive rights to the technology developed under the patent.
Under the agreement with FIU, research and patent applications are being funded to unlock the potential of lithium air and lithium sulfur battery chemistries by using the catalytic properties of platinum and palladium, according to the companies. Research is led by Dr. Bilal El-Zahab along with a team that includes six specialist nano-materials and battery post-doctoral fellows. The team at FIU has completed the first year of research and surpassed their first technical milestone. Further patent applications have been filed.
Platinum Group CEO R. Michael Jones said, “The initial patent grant is the first significant milestone toward our objectives to both capitalize on a true cutting-edge innovation and drive demand for PGMs at the same time.”
Lion was formed in 2019 by Platinum Group and Anglo American Platinum Ltd. to accelerate the development of next-generation battery technology using platinum and palladium.
