Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. (NasdaqNM: ALTI)
1725 Sheridan Avenue, Suite 140
Cody, Wyoming 82414
Phone: (307) 587-8245
Corporate Web Site: http://www.altairint.com/
Shares Outstanding: 20.8 million
Public Float: 14.8 million
Insider Ownership: 29%
Institutional Ownership: (9) under 1%
Market Capitalization: $ 26.6 million
Closing Price Friday 1/11/2002: $1.28

The next big thing may well arise from the world of the unimaginably small where things are measured in a minuscule unit called the nanometer…a distance one hundred thousand times smaller than a human hair. Nanotechnology is a rapidly emerging and highly unique sector dealing with the commercial or applied applications resulting from the physical world being modeled on the nanoscale. Stockprowler.com views this week’s pick, Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. as a pure play speculation and a ground floor opportunity. Altair is positioning itself through product innovation within this emerging industry to become a leading supplier of nanomaterials worldwide. Altair owns a patented proprietary technology for making nanocrystalline materials of unique quality both economically and in large quantities. Altair’s “thin film” process may well be the best in the world. The company is currently developing special nanomaterials with potential applications in fuel cells, solar cells, advanced energy storage devices, thermal spray coatings, catalysts, cosmetics, paints and environmental remediation.
Nanomaterials will likely change our lives in ways that will thrill the imagination. First on the horizon is a revolution in energy storage devices. On November 1, 2001, Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. announced that world renowned battery technology expert, Dr. K. M. Abraham, independently confirmed that Altair's proprietary Li4Ti5O12 nanomaterials have made it possible to achieve lithium ion charging and discharging rates 10 to 100 times higher than with materials commercially available today… a very dramatic breakthrough. According to Abraham, capacities close to the theoretical values can be obtained from these materials at exceptionally high rates making the Altair materials suitable for the development of high power, rechargeable lithium ion batteries. Altair currently has seven patents pending and has filed for a patent application relating to its unique Li4Ti5O12 nanomaterials.
Dr. Abraham also noted that the lithium ion battery has many advantages over three water-based electrolyte systems and, because of these advantages, lithium ion batteries are increasingly becoming the battery of choice for portable consumer products such as cellular telephones and notebook computers. “As result of the proliferation of these and other portable consumer products,” continued Abraham, “the rechargeable lithium ion battery business is expected to generate tens of billions of dollars in sales in the not too distant future.”
A potential market for Li4Ti5O12-based rechargeable lithium ion batteries is the replacement of the lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries currently used in automotive applications, uninterrupted power supplies in the telecom industry, and in various military applications. These applications are aided by the fact that nano-sized Li4Ti5O12-based lithium batteries have the ability to undergo charge/discharge cycles with little fade in capacity for thousands of cycles. Other potential markets for Li4Ti5O12-based lithium ion batteries are as power sources for hybrid electric vehicles and for the fabrication of high-power hybrid electrochemical cells.
On November 12, 2001, Altair Nanotechnologies entered into an agreement with FMC Lithium (NYSE:FMC) concerning the development and marketing of nano-lithium titanate spinel related metal oxides and associated proprietary technologies for the energy storage industry. It is expected that FMC Lithium will lead the collaboration in the commercialization, marketing and sales of the nano- lithium titanate spinel via their global distribution network and customer partnerships. “Testing indicates that nano-lithium titanate spinel exhibits charge rates that are orders of magnitude higher than conventional battery materials,” said Mr. Victor Maurtua, Marketing and Sales Director, FMC Lithium. Nano-lithium titanate spinel-based batteries can potentially replace lead-acid and nickel-cadmium batteries in hybrid automobiles, uninterrupted power supplies, military applications, and other specialized uses. It can also potentially be used in notebook computers, mobile phones and other portable devices.
In addition, Altair Nanotechnologies recently announced that it has filed a patent application covering its process for making nano-sized stabilized zirconia. Stabilized zirconia is one of the dominant materials used today in thermal spray coatings. These coatings protect metals subjected to corrosion caused by intense heat or extreme conditions and are applicable for power generation products and jet engines. The company currently sells its nanostructured thermal spray products to Inframat Corporation, a thermal spray technology, development and production company, and F.W. Gartner Thermal Spray, a nationally recognized supplier of high quality thermal spray services. Thermal spray services represent a $1.3 billion industry.
Altair's nano-sized stabilized zirconia is also a major component in the development of the company's solid oxide fuel cell core (SOFC) program. SOFC applications have been attracting worldwide attention due to their high-energy conversion efficiency and their improved performance with regards to pollution and use of natural resources including fossil fuels. A fuel cell is basically a simple electrochemical device; the difference between them being that while a battery stores and discharges energy, a fuel cell generates energy. The difficulty with an SOFC results not because of its complexity, but from problems inherent in the materials used - and, according to its press releases, ALTI has apparently resolved those difficulties - stability at high temperatures, no thermal mismatch, high oxyanion transfer.
Dr. Bruce Sabacky, Director R & D and Alternative Energy Programs, Altair Nanotechnologies estimates Altair's cost for the materials for their SOFC's power unit is $16 per kilowatt. Altair’s manufacturing method is to layer the powders for the anode, diode, and electrolyte, and by firing once, they create the ceramic power unit. This process is scalable, and similar to current manufacturing methods for ceramic electronic components.The fuel cell market for SOFC applications, which includes on-site power systems, motor vehicle applications and utility companies, is estimated to be $360 million by 2005. Altair believes it will have its first working SOFC fuel cell power unit available by the end of the first quarter in 2002.
Interestingly, after nearly $1.5 billion in subsidies, the Bush administration is ending an eight-year program to help automakers develop high-mileage, family size cars. Instead, it wants to spur the growth of hydrogen fuel cells to power the next generation of motor vehicles. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, addressing an auto show in Detroit, promoted hydrogen fuel cell development as part of a broader strategy to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil (nearly 2/3 of the oil consumed in the U.S is imported) and help the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other automotive pollution.
Altair Nanotechnologies holds mineral leases totaling 14,000 acres on a titanium/zircon mineral sand deposit in Tennessee and is conducting pilot plant operations to assess the economic feasibility of mining operations on the Tennessee site. The company's other principle asset is the Altair Centrifugal Jig, an environmentally friendly breakthrough technology for mining, coal treatment and environmental remediation. Altair’s patented, state-of-the-art Centrifugal Jig using a combination of a mechanical jig and centrifugal force, efficiently recovers extremely fine, heavy particulate matter according to different specific gravities. http://www.altairint.com/Technology/technology.html Altair is finalizing the commercial development of the device. Potential market applications include: the separation and recovery of heavy minerals, gold, tin and iron ore; coal cleaning; and the removal of fine contaminants from waste sites for environmental remediation.
A recent report by Evolution Capital Limited predicts that the nanotechnology sector will be worth $150 billion by 2005 and hit the $1 trillion mark by 2010 stating that, “Nanotechnology will eventually pervade every industry sector and impact the daily lives of the world’s population.”Merrill Lynch recently released a bullish 6 page report on the Nanotech sector titled “ The Next Small Thing: An Introduction to Nanotechnology”. Quoting from the report, “nanotechnology holds promise as the next big growth innovation to drive the economy and stock market.”
Wall Street has only just begun to recognize the next wave potential of nanotechnology. Altair Nanotechnologies (NasdaqNM: ALTI) is very cheap at $1.28/share. It is one of only two publicly traded pure-plays in nanomaterials. The other is Nanophase Technologies (NasdaqNM: NANX) trading at $6.35/share. ALTI offers the speculative investor high potential for increasing over the next 12 – 18 months. Readers are encouraged to visit the Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. company web site for further information.