Graphene batteries

Researchers from China's Zhejiang University have developed a new thermal management system to prevent thermal runaway of Li-ion battery (LIB) cells, using hyperbolic graphene phase change composites. This addresses the safety concerns of LIB cells, mainly caused by thermal runaway. While phase change material systems already exist, the unresolved trade-off between high power and energy density greatly limits its practical applications. 

The newly developed thermal management system relies on a composite material that consists of hyperbolic graphene framework and paraffin, and reportedly exhibits an impressive thermal conductivity of ∼30.75 W/mK at 12.5 wt% graphene loading and ultrahigh retention (90%) of latent heat, beyond that of most of the reported phase change composites. 

It was recently announced that HydroGraph Clean Power entered into two significant alliances in battery materials with Volfpack Energy and NEI Corporation.

The first agreement with NEI focuses on developing graphene-enhanced battery materials, featuring co-branded products and positioning NEI as a key channel partner for HydroGraph's graphene materials in the battery market. The second deal with Volfpack Energy focuses on the development of next-generation supercapacitors using HydroGraph's fractal graphene technology.

Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed a method for coating lithium-ion battery cathodes with graphene, extending their life and performance. This recent effort may improve lithium-ion battery performance and reduce reliance on cobalt, an element frequently used in lithium-ion batteries that is difficult to source sustainably.

Image credit: Caltech

Caltech senior research scientist, David Boyd, has worked over the past decade to develop techniques for manufacturing graphene. In 2015, Boyd and colleagues discovered that high-quality graphene could be produced at room temperature. Prior to this, the production of graphene required extremely high temperatures, up to 1,000 degrees Celsius. After this breakthrough, they searched for new applications for graphene. Recently, Boyd teamed up with Will West, a technologist at Caltech's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which Caltech manages for NASA. West specializes in electrochemistry and, in particular, in the development of improved battery technologies. Boyd and West set out to see if graphene could create an improved lithium-ion battery, which they have shown to be possible.

Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has announced the launch of SUPER G®, a graphene slurry which can be used to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries. This product has, according to GMG, the potential to reshape the future of energy storage, offering battery manufacturers an innovative solution that optimizes efficiency, power, and longevity.

SUPER G® is a graphene slurry which has been developed by GMG over the last 3 years for GMG’s own Graphene Aluminum-Ion Battery which has unique properties of high electrical conductivity, low charge transfer resistance and high density compared to other carbon battery additives and materials used in lithium-ion batteries.

Solidion Technology, an advanced silicon anode and battery technology materials provider, has announced its operational and financial results for the third quarter of 2024. The Company declared a $4.2 million loss from continuing operations, including increased spending on third-party validation testing for automakers. Net Loss was $6,636,679. 

Solidion Technology also mentioned technological and business developments. Among the technological advancements were: developing and securing a newly granted U.S. patent for technology enabling 5-minute charging of lithium batteries across all climates by leveraging a graphene-based heat spreader for optimal battery temperature control, expanding the Company's industry-leading intellectual property portfolio 1 with 20 new U.S. patents granted this year and achieving third-party validation for the Company's cost-effective process that eliminates the need for toxic silane gas and CVD techniques. 

Volt Carbon Technologies, in collaboration with Downsview Aerospace Innovation & Research (DAIR), has announced that both Volt Carbon's southern Ontario-based mineral processing operation (Toronto) and its subsidiary, Solid UltraBattery (Guelph), have been selected as recipients of the DAIR Green Fund.

The funded projects include: 1) "Development of High-Performance Carbon Materials for Aerospace Industries" and 2) "Advancements in Low-Temperature Performance of Lithium-Ion Batteries." These initiatives aim to advance battery solutions for unmanned aerial systems and enhance the capabilities of graphite and graphene in aerospace materials.

Lyten has announced that it is acquiring manufacturing assets from Northvolt, a Swedish battery manufacturer facing financial difficulties.

Northvolt is selling manufacturing equipment the company inherited in its 2021 acquisition of Cuberg, another battery startup. Lyten will also assume the lease of Cuberg’s old manufacturing facility in San Leandro, California. Lyten will invest $20 million next year to expand facilities in San Leandro and its existing operations in San Jose.

Project Arrow aims to develop an all-electric SUV concept with autonomous driving capabilities, and is a collaboration between nearly 60 different companies in Canada (led by the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA)). In 2023, at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) event in Las Vegas, a fully operational prototype was unveiled.

Project Arrow concept unveiled at CES

Now, the Canadian government announced a new investment of CAD$7 million (just over USD$5 million) in the project.

Today we published a new edition of our Graphene Batteries Market Report, with all the latest information and updates from companies and researchers in the field. The batteries market is extremely active, as demand from EVs and mobile applications increases R&D efforts, and graphene is seen as a potential material to increase capacity, decrease charging times and improve other performance metrics.

Reading this report, you'll learn all about:

• The advantages of using graphene in batteries
• The different ways graphene can be used in batteries
• Various types of graphene materials
• What's on the market today

The report package also provides:

• A list of all graphene companies involved with batteries
• Detailed specifications of graphene-enhanced anode materials
• Personal contact details into most graphene developers
• Free updates for a year

This Graphene Batteries market report provides a great introduction to graphene materials used in the batteries market, and covers everything you need to know about graphene in this niche. This is a great guide for anyone involved with the battery market, nanomaterials, electric vehicles and mobile devices.

Solidion Technology has announced that it has been granted a patent on a cost-effective graphene-based strategy for enabling completion of charging in 5 minutes for a wide range of lithium batteries.

Range anxiety, the fear that an electric vehicle (EV) may run out of battery power during a trip, has long been regarded as a key reason for consumers' reluctance to adopt EVs. This issue is exacerbated by the notion that recharging batteries usually takes much longer time than refueling internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). To be competitive with ICEVs, fast charging of EVs should be weather-independent and comparable in time as refueling a gasoline car. Variations in temperatures in different geographic regions and seasons poses a challenge in fast charging EV batteries, since batteries can behave very differently. None of today's EV batteries allow for fast charging at low temperatures.