Graphene batteries: Introduction and Market News - Page 35

Saint Jean Carbon recently announced that it has started the design and build of a graphene based lithium-ion battery. SJC stated that based on the Company’s graphene production capabilities, the material being produced is 99.999999%gC and a single layer of graphite measuring one atom in thickness will be used to create the anode.

This announcement follows two years of research, and the Company feels that due to the fact that no harsh chemicals or heat has been used to produce the graphene, the high order of carbon is kept in perfect condition, creating the possibility of extremely high performance for lithium-ion battery applications.

2016 will soon come to an end, and we are getting ready to summarize this exciting year in the graphene industry. One year ago we posted the top top graphene stories in 2015, and you can see the list below again. Interestingly, the most popular stories in 2015 were about graphene's potential for energy storage - mainly supercapacitors and batteries.

1. Sunvault Energy and Edison Power present a 10,000 Farad graphene supercapacitor
2. Sunvault's graphene-based supercapacitor declared to someday replace Lithium-ion batteries and compete with Tesla's battery aspirations
3. Stanford scientists make graphene-aluminum battery that charges quickly and lasts over 7,000 cycles
4. Graphene 3D Lab starts selling conductive graphene filament for 3D printing
5. Will Tesla's Roadster 3.0 use a graphene-enhanced battery?
6. Berkeley scientists design graphene-based loudspeakers and microphones
7. World's first commercial graphene-based supercapacitor chosen for use in spacecraft
8. IDTechEx's analyst explains his views on the graphene market
9. Scientists design a large-scale roll-to-roll graphene manufacturing process
10. Graphene-enhanced guitar shown at Graphene Live!

Below you can see 2015's top 10 graphene applications, ranked by the number of posts written about them. Back then we were a bit surprised to see graphene sensors at #2 - but recently companies have actually started to commercialize graphene sensors (see here and here) and this is a very promising field.

CalBattery, the U.S-based developer of a Silicon-Graphene (SiGr) composite anode material for li-ion batteries, recently announced that it has successfully scaled-up its new fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition process and is producing commercial quality and quantities of its breakthrough high capacity silicon composite anode material for use in li-ion batteries.

Over the past 5 years CalBattery’s team has worked with over thirty engineering groups to develop, build, and optimize a new type of fluidized bed chemical vapor deposition reactor capable of producing novel industry leading silicon composite lithium battery anode materials that can be specially engineered to incorporate between 10% -50% silicon with limited swelling and good cycle life compared to other LIB silicon anode materials used today.

Huawei unveiled a new Li-Ion battery that can remain functional at higher temperature (60° degrees as opposed to the existing 50° limit) and offers a longer operation time - double than what can be achieved with previous batteries.

To achieve this breakthrough, Huawei incorporated several new technologies - including an anti-decomposition additives in the electrolyte, chemically stabilized single crystal cathodes - and graphene to facilitate heat dissipation. Huawei says that the graphene reduces the battery's operating temperature by 5 degrees.

Today we published a new version of all our graphene market reports. Graphene-Info provides comprehensive niche graphene market reports, and our reports cover everything you need to know about these niche markets. The reports are now updated to November 2016.

The Graphene Batteries Market Report:

• The advantages using graphene batteries
• The different ways graphene can be used in batteries
• Various types of graphene materials
• What's on the market today
• Detailed specifications of some graphene-enhanced anode material
• Personal contact details into most graphene developers

The report package provides a good introduction to the graphene battery - present and future. It includes a list of all graphene companies involved with batteries and gives detailed specifications of some graphene-enhanced anode materials and contact details into most graphene developers. Read more here!

Researchers at Brown University have developed a method of producing ultrathin metal-oxide films with intricate crumple and wrinkle pattern using crumpled graphene sheets as templates. These textured metal-oxide films may be especially beneficial in increasing the efficiency of batteries and photocatalysts.

To introduce wrinkle and crumple structures in graphene, the team compressed the sheets multiple times in multiple orientations, in a process that won't work for metal oxides as they are too stiff and crack if compressed too much. The team, however, developed a method of using the crumpled graphene sheets as templates for making crumpled metal-oxide films and transfered those surface features from the graphene onto the metal oxides.

Henrik Fisker, who recently announced its new EV project that will sport a graphene-enhanced battery, unveiled what is hoped to be a competitor to Tesla. Called EMotion, the electric sports car will reportedly achieve a 161 mph (259 kmh) top speed and a 400-mile electric range.

While the EMotion is still in its early stages, Fisker already announced several details that suggest the vehicle is not designed for everyday commuting. It was described it as "technology-laden" and said to be expensive. A graphene-based battery will power the electric motor, the result of a partnership between Fisker and California-based Nanotech Energy.

Update: After speaking with the NGI, it seems that there is no such cooperation taking place. China's Tianjin High-tech Area (THT) will cooperate with Allied Vehicles Group in Scotland, a leading supplier of adapted and special purpose vehicles and the National Institute of Graphene of the Manchester University on the development of graphene-enhanced batteries for new energy vehicles (NEV).

The Tianjin High-tech Area has formed a complete NEV industrial chain over the years, including battery, motor and other component development. The THT is expecting near-future investments and plans to expand in most parts of the industrial chain.

Mincom Capital has announced it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent with Grafoid to acquire Grafoid's 75% interest in Braille Holdings which owns Braille Battery. The proposed purchase price is $2 million USD, of which $1 million USD will be paid in cash and $1 million USD will be paid in shares issued to Grafoid from the treasury of Mincom. To fund this acquisition, Mincom plans to raise around $3 million USD.

Grafoid stated that "We see future market opportunities for high performing next generation batteries in the bus and truck manufacturing sectors and we see trends emerging in marine, aviation and medical equipment and other industrial sectors that might benefit from graphene-based energy solutions".

Henrik Fisker, owner of failed automotive venture "Fisker Automotive", said recently that he plans to launch a new electric car company next year to compete with Tesla. According to Fisker, the new electric cars will be powered by a long-range battery that uses graphene to extend its range and life and reduce charging time. The company is targeting a 400-mile driving range between charges.

It was not revealed who is funding this new California-based venture, called Fisker Inc, and a new battery subsidiary, Fisker Nanotech. In an interview, Fisker said his new company plans a battery-powered model aimed at the Tesla Model S, which is priced at about $65,000. He did not specify when production would begin. A second smaller Fisker electric car will follow, Fisker said, and will target the upcoming Tesla Model 3, which is expected to start at about $35,000.