Neometals : Australian Provisional Patent Lodged for Lithium Titanate Process

• Australian provisional patent application lodged in relation to the previously announced Lithium Titanate ("LTO") research project.
• Pouch cell testing in US confirms superior performance to industry standard LTO.
• Optimisation testwork at CSIRO has commenced.

Further to its ASX announcement of 31 May 2017, Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT) ("Neometals") is pleased to announce that it has lodged an Australian provisional patent application associated with its technology to produce lithium titanate oxide for use in lithium-ion batteries.

Neometals has a dedicated subsidiary, Neomaterials Pty Ltd, to hold its interest in the intellectual property and patent applications for this advanced battery material process. The Freedom to Operate ('FTO') search and opinion was exhaustive with more than 440 published patents reviewed.

Test work results indicate performance of the material in the larger scale pouch-cell was superior to the commercially available lithium titanate, and re-confirmed in multiple coin-cell tests. All tests had NCM cathode and LTO anode.

Neometals is undertaking optimisation testwork at the CSIRO to accelerate the commercialisation of this advanced battery material technology. The program is expected to be completed by the end of the December quarter and will produce product for evaluation by battery producers.

Neometals Managing Director, Chris Reed, commented: "The lodgement of this patent application is consistent with Neometals' IP strategy to protect its competitive advantage once the commercial viability emerges. Our goal is to justify the addition of a LTO circuit to the Lithium Hydroxide project to further multiply the value of our lithium units."