Ilika secures US patent for fuel cell catalyst

Dec 21, 2012 - UK cleantech materials researcher Ilika Plc (LON:IKA) today said it had obtained a US patent for its low-cost metal alloys electro-catalysts for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells.

Electro-catalysts are required to spur a controlled reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell. On a cost/performance basis, the Ilika's platinum-free catalyst is 70% cheaper than standard catalysts based on platinum, Ilika said.

Ilika expects more grants of the patent family around the world in 2013.

In September, the UK's Carbon Turst made a GBP-150,000 (USD 243,000/EUR 184,400) equity investment in Ilika to back the commercialisation of the its electro-catalysts for use in fuel cell vehicles.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.622/EUR 1.229)

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