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New York, NY – June 14, 2005 – Convenient, cost-effective sources of hydrogen were  traditionally difficult to produce, which created a barrier to the widespread adoption of fuel  cells to power portable electronic devices. Now, advanced materials startup SiGNa  Chemistry, LLC has developed a product that generates copious amounts of inexpensive,  clean hydrogen from water. This technology, which represents the first advancement in  alkali metals processing in more than a century, will also streamline many other industrial  processes from drug manufacturing to petroleum refining to environmental restoration.  

 SiGNa Chem’s core technology is nanoencapsulation of alkali metals into porous oxides.  Alkali metals readily donate electrons to produce chemical reactions that are highly useful  throughout science and industry. However these metals are also extremely dangerous to  store and handle, with a tendency to burst into flames when exposed to moisture or air.  SiGNa’s patent-pending technology produces inert, safe-to-handle powder from alkali  metals and silica gel. These powders react controllably, with different stages of predictable  activation to suit industry protocols.   

 “Alkali metals have been used by chemists for well over 100 years,” said Michael Lefenfeld,  SiGNa Chem CEO and Chief Scientific Officer. “However, their use has been limited by their  pyrophoric (spontaneously combusting) qualities. We were originally developing a  consumer product that would have benefited from this type of reduction reaction, but then  realized that the market is much larger for a user-friendly form of the alkali metals  themselves.”  

 In addition to the functional efficiencies of alkali metal reduction reactions, the SiGNa Chem  products avoid the substantial costs associated with storing and handling pyrophoric  substances, including safety equipment and procedures, insurance and regulatory  compliance.   

 Pharmaceutical manufacturing is one large‐scale market for SiGNa Chem materials. “Right  now, pharma is designing multiple steps in its manufacturing processes to avoid using a  single alkali reduction step, because they are apprehensive about the hazardous nature of the  reagent,” Lefenfeld said. “We’re changing that mindset; some big companies are evaluating  our material, and we’re very optimistic about the outcome.”  

 The predictable reactivity and benign nature of SiGNa’s product also makes it ideal for  consumer applications. SiGNa has chosen the micro fuel cell market as an important initial  target in its commercialization efforts.  

 “In five years, nearly a quarter of all handheld electronic devices worldwide are predicted to  be powered by micro fuel cells,” Lefenfeld said. “There’s tremendous appeal in adding a  powder to water to power a laptop computer for 10 hours.”  

 SiGNa Chem has sold evaluation quantities to major petrochemical companies, and the  world’s largest chemical supply house will serve as a distribution channel. The July 2005  Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) will feature SiGNa Chem’s innovative work, as  well as this month’s premiere issue of Materials Engineering News.   

 About SiGNa Chemistry, LLC.  SiGNa Chemistry is an early-stage company developing unique solutions to compelling  chemistry problems through the power of interdisciplinary science. SiGNa is positioned to  develop and deliver a host of solutions to a wide range of scientific applications and  industries. The company’s advanced materials will deliver new products to academic and  industrial markets as diverse as pharmaceutical synthesis, petroleum refining,  organometallics, catalysis, and hydrogen energy. For more information:  http://www.signachem.com.