HPQ Acquires Latest-Generation Surface Treatment Patents

Silica and silicon-based materials environmental engineering technology company HPQ Silicon Inc. ("HPQ" or "Company") (TSX-V: HPQ) (OTCQB: HPQFF) (FRA: O08) announced that its Lyon, France-based subsidiary NOVACIUM SAS ("Novacium") has acquired a patent portfolio related to carbon-based materials surface treatment from Dr. Alexander Zaderko. Dr. Zaderko, from Kyiv University in Ukraine, is a world-renowned researcher with over 20 years of experience in carbon functionalization for various applications, including energy storage and supercapacitors. Silicon-based anodes possess up to 10 times higher energy density compared to graphite-based anodes; therefore, brands such as Porsche, Mercedes and GM are making substantial investments in silicon-anode batteries. While silicon-based anode materials demonstrate significant potential for batteries, they are known to undergo considerable degradation during charge and discharge cycles. Carbon coating application is a commonly used approach to address this issue. This carbon coating is widely employed to reduce some of the degradation, improve overall performance and durability of silicon-based anodes. Novacium's research team, in collaboration with Dr. Zaderko, adapted and validated the significant potential of Novacium surface treatments for carbon-based materials in battery applications. Initial tests have shown significant performance improvements in silicon-based Li-ion cells. The results demonstrate that this new surface treatment has a dual effect on battery properties: it reduces degradation by improving the interface with the electrolyte, increases reversibility (battery life) and also reduces charging time. Additionally, initial test results conducted with graphite anode materials alone (without silicon) show that the new surface treatment positively affects the performance of graphite-based Li-ion cells by improving the graphite-electrolyte interface. Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Novacium Oleksiy Nichiporuk stated: "Our innovative approach aims to significantly improve lithium cell performance. We believe that the application of Novacium's patented surface treatments has the potential to transform and enhance the performance of Li-ion cells and will benefit not only silicon-based anode materials, but the entire battery market." Source