Graphene hits high in LiO2 battery tests

HydroGraph Clean Power Inc., a manufacturer of high-quality nanomaterials, has cleared a new milestone in the field of energy storage, according to a study published recently in the Journal of Electrochemical Energy Conversion and Storage.

HydroGraph reported May 24 that its graphene surpassed the performance of the leading cathode carbon materials in a lithium-oxygen battery test.

Lithium-oxygen, Li-O2, batteries have emerged as one of the world's most promising energy storage solutions. Global adoption, however, has been hampered in achieving efficient electrocatalysis, an electrochemical reaction that impacts a battery's performance.

Using HydroGraph's patented high-purity fractal graphene, battery scientists have overcome performance challenges, allowing for a better-performing battery at a lower cost compared to current technologies, the company said.

HydroGraph further said its graphene offers not only superior performance but also better economics, at a significantly lower cost. According to the manufacturer, extensive testing and analysis have demonstrated that the product delivers exceptional results, including the highest discharge capacity, superior cycling stability, and promising performance at higher current densities.

"This achievement marks a significant turning point in Li-O2 battery technology," said Ranjith Divigalpitiya, chief science officer for HydroGraph. "Our graphene material showcases improved performance, surpassing the industry's leading catalyst and providing battery manufacturers and investors with renewed hope and confidence."

"We are incredibly proud of the breakthrough our team has achieved," said Xianglin Li, Ph.D., the corresponding author of the publication and Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Washington University in St. Louis. The work was completed while Li was an associate professor at the University of Kansas.

"HydroGraph's graphene showcases unparalleled capabilities in electrocatalysis, unlocking new possibilities for Li-O2 batteries and accelerating the transition to cleaner energy solutions," Li added.

Producing high-purity graphene

HydroGraph Clean Power Inc. was founded in 2017 to fund and commercialize green, cost-effective processes to manufacture high-purity graphene, hydrogen, and other strategic materials in bulk.

Publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange in 2021, the company acquired the exclusive license from Kansas State University to produce both graphene and hydrogen through its patented detonation process.

Hydrograph also recently reported that its patented Hyperion System, designed for scaled-up production of high-purity graphene, achieved a key technological milestone to produce commercial-scale quantities of graphene.

Hyperion System will produce fractal graphene to serve various markets, including lubricants, energy storage, resins, specialty chemicals, coatings, and other markets. The company's validation process confirmed the capex cost per metric ton of graphene produced would be one of the lowest in the industry. The system can produce more than 10 metric tons per year using readily available commodity acetylene and oxygen.

"A year ago, we challenged ourselves to design and construct a commercial scale graphene production unit at the lowest capital cost in the world. In a year, we have gone from a rudimentary proof-of-concept unit to this powerful production system," said Stephen Corkill, vice president of operations at Hyrograph.

"With the advancement of this unit, I am proud to say the Hydrograph team has exceeded both cost and production expectations, further positioning HydroGraph as the leader in production of high purity graphene," he added.

The two-by-two-meter modular system is comprised of mostly off-the-shelf components with no major rotating equipment allowing for easy deployment, operating on customer location by integrating into a production line or engineered with additional "reactive graphene" functionalization for increased product performance. The compact footprint provides environmental benefits through minimal energy usage and low operating costs, with one operator able to run multiple systems.

HydroGraph aims to open regional production facilities serving targeted customer locations in 2024. All facilities and production units will be owned by HydroGraph, with graphene being sold to customers under long-term contracts. This will allow graphene produced to be engineered to customer volume and specification. Construction lead time for additional units is currently expected to be between three and four months.

HydroGraph is currently investigating more than 20 different graphene applications with some 40 potential customers, including 15 testing/NDAs already in place.

White Graphene wins Boeing contract

In Australia, Queensland-based White Graphene Ltd. has joined Boeing Co. in investigating applications of boron nitride nanomaterials.

By winning the highly competitive "Sustainability in Space Pitch Competition," the Aussie nanomaterials company has secured US$100,000 and a partnership with Boeing to develop boron nitride applications for the space and aerospace industries.

Hosted by Boeing's technology incubator Aerospace Xelerated, in partnership with Advance Queensland and the Queensland Government, the competition attracted six companies as finalists.

Each of the short-listed companies presented a 15-minute pitch to a live panel of judges at The Precinct innovation hub in Brisbane, Aus., and at the Space Center in Houston on May 4.

White Graphene Commercial Director Lieuwke de Jong impressed the judges with a pitch about the potential application of boron nitride nanomaterials in interplanetary travel, the protection of space hardware, and shielding space travelers from radiation.

As the winner, White Graphene will receive up to US$100,000 of funding for a "proof of concept" project to develop solutions using boron nitride nanomaterials. If successful, there is an opportunity for the company to become a supplier to Boeing and work with the company and its stakeholders to address a range of space sustainability challenges.

De Jong said the Aerospace Xelerated event was an excellent platform for the company to demonstrate the potential of boron nitride nanomaterials to Boeing and the broader space and aerospace industries.

"Being selected as the winning pitch is tremendously important for the team and a great recognition of their work over many years," he said. "We have invested significant time and resources to create the manufacturing methodology that allows us to produce the required nanomaterials in various forms for commercial application at an economically viable price point. We look forward to seeing where this exciting new partnership with Boeing can take us."

White graphene is an advanced nanoscale 2D material that possesses unique properties which are complementary to carbon or black graphene. White graphene consists of hexagonal arrays of boron and nitrogen atoms that can form an incredibly strong tensile reinforcement in other materials.

It is also non-toxic to the human body and transparent in low concentrations. It also can form an impermeable barrier to moisture and hydrogen atoms.

The namesake manufacturer of this nanomaterial is one of several associated companies controlled by ASX-listed advanced technology incubator and investor PPK Group Ltd. that are focused on commercializing boron nitride nanomaterials through collaboration with innovative companies.

PPK Chairman Robin Levison said collaborating with global organizations like Boeing provided a clear path to product validation and the commercial application of boron nitride nanomaterials.

"We have now secured active, highly prospective collaborations across multiple industry sectors to support a path to large-scale commercialization of boron nitride nanomaterials and the extraordinary properties they produce," he said.