The Graphene-Info newsletter (July 20, 2021)

Batteries have always been a highly sought-after application for graphene materials, bearing promises of expanded capacity, ultra-fast charging, improved safety of use and more.

The advantages of graphene batteries

Early testing in labs and research institutes were very promising, but the move from lab to market proved more challenging than people expected. Even today, in 2021, graphene batteries aren't on the market yet, in any major way.

We do see, however, some niche adoption - for example, the use of graphene to enable novel battery casings, or extending the battery's temperature range (see Huawei's 2016 graphene battery announcement for example). But actual graphene-enhanced battery anodes or other components haven't been realized yet.

Korea-based Charmgraphene has started to mass produce CVD graphene, using its proprietary roll-to-roll process.

CharmGraphene's graphene on copper and heating element

CharmGraphene's R2R production system can produce 2 meters of CVD graphene per minute (maximum width 300 mm). According to CharmGraphene, its current CVD graphene capacity is about 8,000 sqm per month. The company says it uses use 6 um thick copper foil which reduces copper foil etching time dramatically compare to 35 um thickness copper foil used by other companies.

Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has announced that it is procuring equipment for a pilot production and testing plant for the manufacture of its Graphene Aluminum-Ion Batteries.

Following recently published performance results and encouraging customer feedback, production of a commercial prototype coin cell battery is targeted before the end of 2021. This pilot production and testing plant is an important next step in the Company’s battery technology development plan.

Graphene producer NanoXplore announced that the Corporation's common shares are starting to trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). The shares will delist from the TSX Venture Exchange. The ticker symbol will remain GRA. This stock graduation will hopefully mean further exposure and and enhanced profile for NanoXplore.

NanoXplore recently announced announced a joint venture with its partner Martinrea International called VoltaXplore Inc., formed to develop electric vehicle (EV) batteries enhanced with graphene . Last month NanoXplore announced that it has entered into a multiyear agreement to supply GrapheneBlack grade of products to Techmer PM, a large U.S-based plastic compounder specializing in modifying and fine-tuning the properties of technical polymers.

Scientists at Tohoku University and colleagues in Japan have developed a mathematical model that abstracts the key effects of changes to the geometries of carbon material and predicts its unique properties.

Scientists generally use mathematical models to predict the properties that might emerge when a material is changed in certain ways. Changing the geometry of three-dimensional (3D) graphene, which is made of networks of carbon atoms, by adding chemicals or introducing topological defects, can improve its catalytic properties, for example. But it has been difficult for scientists to understand why this happens exactly.

Health Canada recently decided that the sale of certain graphene-enhanced face masks that were considered a hazard due to their graphene content can resume, after the agency assessed the masks and found "no health risks of concern."

Health Canada issued an advisory in April asking all distributors selling masks with graphene or biomass graphene to recall their products over potential inhalation risks after preliminary assessments made the agency fear a potential for inhaled graphene particles to cause lung effects, such as inflammation, in animals. These concerns made somewhat of an impact with consumers and producers alike, and various graphene-enhanced face masks responded to these claims.

Versarien has executed the use of its graphene-enhanced concrete - this time in a residential setting. The Company poured its product for a property development company at a site in Symonds Yat. This follows the former announcenemt back in May, when the world's first graphene concrete slab was poured for commercial use at Amesbury's Solstice Park for a gym owned and run by military veterans.

Neill Ricketts, Versarien CEO, said: "We're laying a relatively small concrete slab at Symonds Yat as a forerunner for some much bigger projects."