Aug 5 2010
IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. (TSX VENTURE:IB) ("IBC" or the "Company") announces that it has signed a binding letter agreement (the "Agreement") with Hydrogen Link Inc. ("HL") to advance HL's leading edge and proprietary lithium beryllium hydrides technologies for hydrogen storage and fuel cell applications.
HL is a leading materials research company focused on hydrogen storage, fuel cell and complementary technologies. HL is based in Montreal, Quebec where it has worked closely with McGill University to develop and advance hydrogen storage and complementary fuel cell technologies.
Under the terms of the Agreement, the parties have agreed to an exclusive six-month arrangement, in which they will collaboratively complete an industry study on solid-state hydrogen storage cells and related applications. The parties will work together to identify potential industry partners, with a view to forming a joint venture, to improve and expand on lithium beryllium metal hydride technologies and to establish a market for energy-efficient hydrogen storage and fuel cell infrastructure.
Central to the project will be HL's patented technology for lithium beryllium hydrides which are a new group of metal hydrides for hydrogen storage. Being the lightest metals in the Periodic Table, lithium and beryllium, combined with hydrogen, show the highest viable and reversible hydrogen capacity at practical temperatures of all known metal hydrides. Measurements of equilibrium pressures of the Li–Be hydrides indicate that these materials can be used at temperatures down to 150°C. These materials are fully reversible and safe and offer a new prospect for hydrogen storage, especially for small-scale applications, such as laptops and other portable devices, where capacity is critical.
"We are very excited to join IBC in developing our hydrogen storage technology," said Alicja Zaluska, HL's president and lead researcher. "We look forward to advancing our work with IBC and joint venture partners to fund and support our research. Lithium beryllium hydrides offer dramatic results," continued Dr. Zaluska, "for hydrogen fuel storage and fuel cell applications, and have the potential for significant economic and operating benefits for the fuel cell and hydrogen storage industries."
"IBC Advanced Alloys Corp. is pleased to sign this agreement with Hydrogen Link and to support an industry with so much potential," said Anthony Dutton, President and CEO of IBC. "Hydrogen Link's advancements in hydrogen storage technology are particularly valuable for IBC presenting multiple opportunities to incorporate beryllium with other materials, such as hydrogen and lithium, into new commercial applications. This agreement reinforces IBC's dedication to strengthening its R&D portfolio and to working with leading companies to develop and promote emerging technologies, particularly in the sustainable energy sector."
Source: http://www.ibcadvancedalloys.com/