Focus Graphite Receives International Preliminary Report on Patentability for its Patent Application for Advanced Anode Material Comprising Spheroidal Silicon Enhanced Graphite Particles
IPRP Examiner finds all claims (1-26) to be novel and inventive, marking a major milestone in the patent process
KINGSTON, ON / ACCESSWIRE / September 26, 2023 / Focus Graphite Inc. (TSXV:FMS); (OTCQB:FCSMF); (FRANKFURT:FKC) (the "Company" or "Focus Graphite") is pleased to announce that it has received a final copy of the International Preliminary Report on Patentability (IPRP) for its patent application for Advanced Anode Material Comprising Spheroidal Silicon Enhanced Graphite Particles, which includes a determination that all claims (1-26) are novel and inventive. The patent application was submitted in March 2021 (see press release of March 1, 2021 for more details).
The IPRP Examiner's findings are of direct significance and benefit to Focus Graphite as the Company will now move forward with classifying and protecting the inventive claims into specific National Phase (NP) jurisdictional patent applications. In doing so, the company will accomplish two key strategic goals by the time the NP patent applications are fully granted through each NP review process:
1. Documenting a novel, inventive, and industrially applicable advanced material manufacturing process for the creation of high-performance lithium-ion battery anodes, wherein the flake graphite raw materials required for this process could be sourced internally from the company's Lac Knife or Lac Tétépisca projects as well as from external sources and/or partnerships.
2. By filing the application into key, strategic jurisdictions where lithium-ion battery manufacturers currently operate or will do so in future, Focus Graphite will have a strong position from which to commercialize and expand its business toward anode technology licensing, battery co-development, and material offtake opportunities.
Each NP review process now has the potential to be fast-tracked, given this favourable review from the IPRP Examiner.
"This is an exciting development for Focus Graphite and is a validation of our commitment to innovation and continuous improvement," said Marc Roy, President and CEO of Focus Graphite. "While we continue to work to advance our Lac Knife and Lac Tétépisca large-flake graphite projects, this milestone represents additional value for our shareholders, as we will be able to offer producers of silicon-enhanced spherical graphite for use in lithium-ion batteries the opportunity to either reduce the cost of their anodes by adding less silicon in their spherical graphite formulation while maintaining current lithium ion battery performance, or keeping the silicon additions at current levels and improving overall battery performance. Either way, more robust, higher-performance lithium-ion batteries will be the result of this new technology, to be used in electric vehicles (EVs) or other applications related to renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels."
Battery Anode Backgrounder
For anode material to be considered battery-worthy, the anode must be of high enough quality so that practical active material loadings on the anode are on the order of 10 to 12 mg/cm2 (or higher). In an embodiment of Focus Graphite's invention, the anodes comprised of silicon-enhanced spheroidal graphite have active material loadings far surpassing these levels, reaching up to 16.2 mg/cm2.
The formation of spheroidal particles is beneficial as it provides maximum packing density in the assembly of the lithium-ion battery anode materials, which will maximize both the Specific Energy (Wh/kg) and Energy Density (Wh/L) of a full battery cell level, thus increasing battery life and power.
Qualified Person
Dr. Joseph Doninger, Focus Graphite's Director of Technology and Manufacturing is the Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects - has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. Dr. Doninger is an internationally recognized graphite processing expert and himself, the inventor of a number of patents and an author of over 27 technical papers and presentations related to graphite processing and the use of graphite in energy storage systems. Dr. Doninger is a co-editor on the NATO Science Series book titled "New Carbon Based Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage Systems". Dr. Doninger is also an Honorary Professor at the Department of Chemistry from the Kiev National University of Technologies and Design.
About Focus Graphite
Focus Graphite Inc. is an advanced exploration company with an objective of producing flake graphite concentrate at its wholly owned Lac Knife and Lac Tétépisca flake graphite projects located in the Côte-Nord administrative region of Québec. In a second stage, to meet Québec stakeholder interests in developing second transformation industries within the province and to add shareholder value, Focus is evaluating the feasibility of producing value-added specialty graphite products including battery-grade spherical graphite.
Focus Graphite is a technology-oriented graphite development company with a vision for building long-term, sustainable shareholder value. Focus also holds a significant equity position in graphene applications developer Grafoid Inc.
For more information about Focus Graphite and the Company's Lac Tétépisca and Lac Knife projects, please visit Focus's website at www.focusgraphite.com or contact:
Kimberly Darlington
Communications, Focus Graphite
kdarlington@focusgraphite.com
Judith Mazvihwa-MacLean
CFO, Focus Graphite
jmazvihwa@focusgraphite.com
(613) 581-4040
Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All information contained herein that is not clearly historical in nature may constitute forward-looking information, including references to the plans and project of the Company such as proceeding with production at the Company's Project, proceeding with exploration activities on its permits on Lac Tétépisca. Generally, such forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "potential", "high-potential", "expected", "optimistic", "looking forward", "moving forward", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would" or "might". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: (i) volatile stock price; (ii) the general global markets and economic conditions; (iii) the possibility of write-downs and impairments; (iv) the risk associated with exploration, development and operations of mineral deposits; (v) the risk associated with establishing title to mineral properties and assets; (vi) fluctuations in commodity prices; (vii) the risks associated with uninsurable risks arising during the course of exploration, development and production; (viii) competition faced by the issuer in securing purchasers, off-taker markets, clients and experienced personnel and financing; (ix) access to adequate infrastructure to support mining, processing, development and exploration activities; (x) the risks associated with changes in the mining regulatory regime governing the issuer; (xi) the risks associated with the various environmental regulations the issuer is subject to; (xii) risks related to regulatory and permitting delays; (xiii) risks related to potential conflicts of interest; (xiv) the reliance on key personnel; (xv) liquidity risks; (xvi) the risk of litigation; and (xvii) risk management.
Forward-looking information is based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made, including but not limited to, continued exploration activities, no material adverse change in metal prices, exploration, and development plans to proceed in accordance with plans and such plans to achieve their stated expected outcomes, receipt of required regulatory approval, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information has been provided for the purpose of assisting investors in understanding the Company's business, operations and exploration plans and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is given as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update such forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
SOURCE: Focus Graphite, Inc.
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