Nano One Materials (NNO.V) has received a notice of allowance for its tenth patent. The new patent covers innovative tech that improves Nano One’s methods of making lithium-ion cathode materials—the stuff that makes rechargeable batteries into rechargeable batteries.
“This patent relates to the methods we have developed for scaled up production of lithium-ion battery cathode materials,” said Dan Blondal, Nano One’s CEO. “It reinforces our patenting strategy and positions us well in a fast paced market as we evaluate our technology with strategic interests in the battery supply chain.”
Nano One made the patent application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2017. The notice means NNO’s patent has been approved and they expect to formally receive it by the spring of 2019.
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Better-batteries
The “better-battery material” company takes the usual ingredients in lithium-ion batteries and makes a type of elemental soup. They stew this chemical broth by dissolving lithium, nickel, and manganese in water.
Currently, most companies grind and mill the lithium with nickel, cobalt, and manganese to produce their cathode material—a mechanical method as opposed to NNO’s chemical method.
After turning the raw materials into liquid form, Nano One dries them into fine, crystalline powder. They then cook the powder in a furnace to produce cathode material (battery material).
Blondal says there are many benefits to the “soup” method:
- Shorter firing times.
- Better integration of other chemicals.
- Ability to use a wider range of lithium than is possible in the milling process.
- Ability to produce longer-lasting battery material.
- Ability to produce higher temperature-resistant material.
Nano One’s processing tech, a proprietary method, saves money while enhancing battery performance.
They’ve also blueprinted plans to build a full-scale production facility. They want to start manufacturing 3,000 tonnes of cathode material per year—enough to make 25,000 electric vehicle batteries.
Key Takeaways:
- APPROVED! Add another patent to the Nano One’s tech wins column.
- Low-cost + innovative tech = savings and profit.
- Chemical soup clobbers milled flour in both cost and performance categories.
- New facility could produce enough cathode material for 25,000 EV batteries.
And does anyone know what EV batteries go for? Tonnes of Greenbacks: anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000. Add those numbers into the math machine, multiply them by 25,000 EV batteries, and out pops … wait for it … anywhere from $25 million to $150 million.
Obviously Nano One produces cathode material, and not the end product, but it’s still a lot of dough in any case.
Additionally, Nano One also announced it has “granted 2,125,000 options with an exercise price of $1.28 to directors and officers of the company.”
“The board, management and scientific teams at Nano One are confident in our growing portfolio of technologies and we are actively pursuing strategic interests and partnership opportunities,” Blondal said.
Full disclosure: Nano One is an Equity Guru marketing client.