Graphene oxide on the way for EU markets

Through a recent breakthrough in battery recycling, Graphmatech, Graphenea, and Northvolt have succeeded in up-cycling end-of-life electric vehicle batteries into graphene oxide at industrial pilot scale, helping to hasten the transition to a green economy.

"The upcycling of graphene oxide from recycling batteries represents a great development in our pursuit of a sustainable battery industry in Europe," said Emma Nehrenheim, chief environmental officer of Northvolt. "Batteries contain an abundance of valuable materials which we can recover to reduce our dependence on mining and producing fresh materials. We are proud to have contributed to this development."

Based in Sweden, Northvolt has quickly established itself as a top European battery supplier and has supported Graphmatech to optimize its recycling process at Northvolt Labs to obtain a feed of graphite-based material for Graphmatech of sufficient purity to enable upcycling into graphene oxide.

Graphmatech, a research and product development company in Sweden, as well as Graphenea, a graphene foundry based in Spain, have both been selected by Northvolt to complete a graphene oxide supply to the European Union.

"Producing graphene oxide from end-of-life batteries makes the entire graphene value chain more sustainable and cost effective," said Jesus de la Fuente, CEO of Graphenea Advanced Materials.

Graphene oxide is a strategic material that European companies often source from outside the region. Graphmatech and Graphenea will now scale up production from the first successful up-cycling to deliver ample supply of graphene oxide throughout Europe.

The companies will use modified graphene oxide in materials and products it delivers to support the ongoing green transition, including hydrogen pressure vessels and pipes that leak 40% less hydrogen than current technology.

Furthermore, modified graphene oxide can be added to metals to create materials that are more conductive, stronger, and tougher than alternatives, whilst reducing metal consumption, making it an attractive and useful material within the green transition.

"Securing our supply chain in collaboration with Northvolt and Graphenea is a dream come true," said CEO of Graphmatech, Mamoun Taher. "We'll enable the green transition with recycled batteries."