There is a fervour of exploration in graphite and four such projects are covered in an article in this month’s issue of International Mining magazine. In the latest news, Focus Graphite and Grafoid have signed a two-year R&D agreement between Grafoid and the University of Waterloo to investigate and develop a graphene-based composite for electrochemical energy storage for the automotive and/or portable electronics sectors.
Gary Economo, President and CEO of Focus Graphite and Grafoid, said “The objective of the agreement is to research and develop patentable applications using Grafoid’s unique investment which derives graphene from raw, graphite ore to target specialty high value graphene derivatives ranging from sulphur graphene to nanoporous graphene foam. Some of the new graphene materials will contribute positively as a powerful next generation composite for fuel cell/electrochemical supercapacitor applications.”
Applications can include electrodes, nanocatalyst support, electrolyte membranes and bipolar plates, transparent electrodes and other potential applications which create high-efficiency solutions in electrochemical energy systems and portable electronics.
Economo said “Today’s announcement marks Grafoid’s fifth publicly declared graphene development project with a major academic or corporate institution, and the third related directly to a next generation green technology or renewable energy development project.” Following R&D partnering projects announced with Rutgers University’s AMIPP, CVD Equipment Corporation, with Hydro-Quebec’s research institute, IREQ, and with British Columbia-based CapTherm Systems, an advanced thermal management technologies developer and producers. Economo continued “Grafoid’s investment in highly conductive graphene, combined with the University’s advanced catalyst technologies could advance the science by opening the door to a realistic, cost-competitive option to other energy solutions. Given our growth agenda for 2013, we expect to be in a position to announce a number of additional application development projects throughout the course of 2013.”
Research Scientist, Gordon Chiu at the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo stated “Research and discovery on graphene sulphur and nanoporous graphene is well documented and is a cornerstone for a wide range of applications. The technology for tailoring graphene for energy storage systems must be developed. This will lead to unique intellectual property assests. Our group’s approach for targeting graphene derivatives that powerfully impact next generation energy storage systems adds significant value to commercial applications while providing invaluable knowledge and insight about the engineering of graphene and certain graphene metamaterials.”
Aiping Yu, Assistant Professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo said that “graphene without proper porosity and polarity remain a constant roadblock for entry into net generation energy storage applications.”
“My group will focus on solving the specific tailoring and design of graphene to enable entry into these energy storage areas. Grafoid’s decision to invest in reducing or removing such a roadblock is a brilliant approach of enhancing graphene for impacting fuel cells, electrochemical supercapacitors and other portable energy storage systems.” Yu added.