Altair Nanotechnologies Announces U.S. Patent Award Notification

Patent Protects Manufacturing Process for Ceramic Nanoparticles

RENO, NV -- 01/14/2005 -- Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALTI), today announced that the U.S. Patent Office has notified Altair that it has allowed Altair’s patent application for a “Process For Making Nano-sized and Sub-micron-sized Lithium-Transition Metal Oxides.” The patent application describes the process and underlying technology for producing nano-sized and sub-micron sized oxides of lithium and a transition metal with particle size over a range of 10 to 1,000 nanometers and with narrow size dispersion.

The patent was derived from developing cathode materials for next-generation lithium ion batteries and is complementary to the patent announced by Altair on January 7, which related to materials for anodes. The processes protected by the new patent are used to make materials that have been formed into electrodes and have been successfully tested by several battery and battery technology companies. The patents are an important cornerstone in Altair’s program to develop mated pairs of high performance anode and cathode materials for advanced high power, fast recharge, long cycle life in safe, high capacity lithium ion batteries.

Over the past five years, Altair has expended significant resources to pioneer and develop advanced ceramic nanotechnology and currently owns six U.S. Patents and 12 foreign patents with 46 additional pending U.S. and foreign patent applications. Altair is aggressively pursuing licensing and business development programs utilizing it technology, nanomaterials and nano-based products worldwide.

“Our Performance Materials Division, in conjunction with industry partners, is involved with alternative energy development programs that include lithium ion batteries, super capacitors, fuel cell development and solar hydrogen generation,” said Altair Nanotechnologies CEO Dr. Alan J. Gotcher. “We believe our nanomaterials can significantly improve lithium ion battery and super capacitor performance, making their use possible in applications where immediate high power delivery is necessary. Such applications include automobile batteries, electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as military applications and specialized uses such as notebook computers, mobile phones, and a variety of other portable devices.”

ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC.

Altair Nanotechnologies, through product innovation, is a leading supplier of advanced ceramic nanomaterial technology worldwide. Altair Nanotechnologies has assembled a unique team of material scientists who, coupled with collaborative ventures with industry partners and leading academic centers, has pioneered an impressive array of intellectual property and product achievements.

Altair Nanotechnologies has developed robust proprietary technology platforms for manufacturing a variety of crystalline and non-crystalline nanomaterials of unique structure, performance, quality and cost. The company has a scalable manufacturing capability to meet emerging nanomaterials demands, with capacity today to produce hundreds of tons of nanomaterials.

The company is organized into two divisions: Life Sciences and Performance Materials. The Life Sciences Division is pursuing market applications in pharmaceuticals, drug delivery, dental materials, cosmetics and other medical markets. The Performance Materials Division is pursuing market applications in Advanced Materials for paints and coatings; titanium metal manufacturing, catalysts and water treatment; and alternative energy. For additional information on Altair and its nano-materials, visit www.altairnano.com.

Altairnano™, Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.®, Altair Nanomaterials™, TiNano®, RenaZorb™, NanoCheck™, TiNano Spheres™ and the Hydrochloride Pigment Process™ are trademarks or registered trademarks of Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements as well as historical information. Forward-looking statements, which are included in accordance with the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, may involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the company’s actual results and performance in future periods to be materially different from any future results or performance suggested by the forward-looking statements in this release. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks that Altair expenses will rise during the following quarters as a result of unexpected cash or non-cash expenses; Altair’s numerous development stage products will not be developed to the point of commercialization or that, even if commercialized, no market will exist for such products or Altair will fail to effectively market to customers in a market; the risks that Altair will be unable to enter into license agreements regarding its pigment process (AHPP), RenaZorb, its TiNano Sphere or other developing products, that even if Altair enters into such license agreements, short term revenues from such agreements will not be sufficient to fund Altair’s operations in the long run, and that animal testing or future testing of RenaZorb or other products of the company will not be successful and that development will need to be terminated. In general, Altair is, and expects to be in the immediate future, dependent upon funds generated from sales of securities, grants, testing agreements, and licensing agreements to fund its testing, development and ongoing operations. In addition, other risks are identified in the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements found herein to reflect any changes in company expectations or results or any change in events.

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