Angstron Materials announced that they have been awarded a $1.494 million project to develop processes for mass-producing chemically modified (functionalized) Nano Graphene Platelets (NGP) for a nearly limitless number of applications in the aerospace, energy, defense, automotive and telecommunications markets. Angstron was selected for the award by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Angstron developed NGPs as an alternative to carbon nanotubes, which are difficult to disperse in plastic and often have purity issuesânot to mention the cost factor. NGPs have been shown to have striking material properties; among other things, it has the highest intrinsic strength and the highest thermal conductivity of all existing materials as well as exceptional in-plane electrical conductivity (up to ~ 20,000 S/cm)and electron mobility that is 100 times faster than silicon.
Application examples include the ability to use NGPs in aviation against lightening strikes or in fuel tanks. The material can be modified to become semi-conducting or insulated when needed. Angstron’s work supports other aerospace needs such as integration of NGPs in thin films or coatings for EMI shielding, electrostatic spray painting, and conductive adhesives as well as composites and thermal management applications. Work is also underway to integrate NGPs in several energy storage and conversion products, such as high-capacity lithium-ion batteries, high-capacity supercapacitors, fuel cells, wind turbine blades, lubricants and solar cells.
Angstron’s project goals under the award will focus on two primary objectives The advanced materials company will develop methods for mass-producing functionalized NGPs through the development of scalable surface treatment procedures for both pristine graphene and graphene oxide platelets. Angstron will also develop an in-depth understanding of the relationships between processing, shape and structure changes and performance in NGPs and NGP-containing devices or composites for both functional and load-bearing applications.