Air Products Awarded Two Key Patents for Lithium Ion Batteries

Stabilife(TM) Salts Provide Better Performance Under Adverse Conditions

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., June 17 -- Air Products today announced it has received two United States patents covering usage of its Stabilife(TM) fluorinated electrolyte salts in lithium ion batteries. These salts have been formulated to stand up to the difficult conditions expected from next generation portable power applications as well as hybrid electric vehicles (HEV).

United States patents 7,311,993 and 7,348,103, both entitled "Polyfluorinated Boron Cluster Anions for Lithium Electrolytes," protect improvements in lithium electrolytes used in lithium ion batteries.

"These patents will help Air Products develop the materials for next generation HEVs," said Wayne Mitchell, vice president and general manager of Performance Materials for Air Products. "They are testament to the enabling characteristics of fluorinated materials for lithium ion batteries, as well as our company's 30 years of experience working with fluorine compounds."

Air Products' Stabilife Salts are electrolyte salts based on the poly- fluorinated borane cluster anions, [B12FxH12-x]2. Stabilife salts have exhibited extraordinary thermal and hydrolytic stability that can allow for the use of safer, lower cost electrode materials, such as LiMn2O4 and LiFePO4, in large format lithium ion batteries. They also have expanded the operating temperature window of lithium ion batteries versus currently employed lithium electrolyte salts.

In addition, Stabilife Salts' unique electrochemistry enables them to provide inherent overcharge protection to lithium ion batteries through redox shuttle chemistry. They are produced at a pilot plant housed within Air Products' fluorine-based chemicals plant in Hometown, Pa.