Amy Maggart

Global Graphene Group Awarded Patent on Elastic Anode Battery Materials

09/30/2020 by Amy Maggart Leave a Comment

DAYTON, OH, September 30, 2020 – Global Graphene Group (G³), a Dayton, Ohio-based materials science company, was recently awarded a US Patent that is in-line with leading EV OEM technical solution roadmaps. G³’s patent for its elastomer-encapsulated particles of high-capacity anode active materials for lithium batteries (US Patent No. 10,734,642 (08/04/2020)) covers essentially any high-elasticity and ion-conducting polymer for lithium-ion battery anode applications.

G³ plans to capitalize on the explosive growth in EV battery development and is expanding production of its silicon-based anode materials.

G³’s expansion supports the industry’s need for better battery solutions recently discussed by a leading EV OEM. G³’s focus on silicon anodes will drive significant improvements in lithium-ion batteries. Industry-leading EV OEMs indicate elastic and ion-conducting polymer-encapsulated Si technology will be needed to drive EV battery technology that will lower cost and provide higher energy density, extending the EV driving range by 20%. G³’s innovative Si anodes can deliver this and more today as a drop-in technology. Furthermore, G³’s entire suite of battery-enabling technologies can deliver driving range improvements of 50-100% at significant cost savings.

G³ has developed the anode materials that precisely meet battery requirements for next-generation EV batteries as outlined by the industry. G³ is actively seeking to establish partnerships for expanding manufacturing capacity of its advanced anode materials.

Leading EV OEMs are focusing on silicon anodes that have the following features:

Low-cost Si particles
Elastic, ion-conducting polymer coating on these Si particles
Highly elastic binder used in the anode to maintain electrode structural integrity.

“G³’s Si-anode technology meet these criteria,” said Dr. Bor Jang, G³ CEO and co-founder. “Recent announcements by EV OEM’s validate that G³’s Si-anode solutions will be a key enabler for next-generation EV batteries. Our team is excited that the EV industry is focused on the same critical path as we see as foundational using Si-anode improving EV batteries.”

“Electric vehicles will continue to grow global market share over the next decade,” said Adam Quirk, G³ VP of Business Development. “Our EV battery technology, including Si-anode, are very attractive to EV manufacturers. It’s a drop-in solution that can easily be incorporated into existing manufacturing processes. We are engaged with many top-tier OEMs who are now validating our solutions.”

G³ is holding a free webinar on Thursday, October 8 at 2 p.m. Eastern to discuss this and other battery technologies for EVs and the direction of the EV battery market. Registration is open for the webinar online: https://bit.ly/3jfI1D0.

Recently, industry leaders stated that the anode material cost could be dropped to $1.20 a kilowatt hour by using new surface stabilization and elastic binder approaches (88% reduction in the anode material cost). G³’s innovative solutions start with silicon and stabilize it with an elastic, ion-conducting polymer that integrates into the electrode with an elastic binder. G³ has the most significant intellectual properties (IPs) in high-capacity anode materials with 80+ US patents (issued or pending), 35 of which are specifically directed at elastic ion-conducting polymer coatings and binders.

The most commonly used material for lithium-ion batteries today is graphite. However, graphite can only store lithium up to 372 mAh/g during a battery charge. In contrast, Si can store lithium up to an amount of 4200 mAh/g), significantly increasing energy density.

About Global Graphene Group
Global Graphene Group, Inc. (G³) is a leading material science and product solutions company focused on graphene and advanced battery technologies. It has an award-winning, best-in-class intellectual property portfolio with more than 470 US patents and applications. In addition, G³ holds many of the world’s firsts in graphene-related breakthroughs that have resulted in cutting edge products. G³, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is the holding company for a variety of subsidiaries. Taiwan Graphene Company is the largest volume producer of single-layer graphene globally. It is focused on high volume production of graphene raw materials, enhanced thermal interface materials (films, pastes, inks), and nanocomposite products (both thermoplastics and thermosets). Honeycomb Battery Company is focused on commercializing next generation lithium ion battery electrodes, battery performance solutions enhanced with graphene, and improved battery reliability performance. It produces graphene-wrapped or elastomer-encapsulated nano silicon particles to improve anode stability, prelithiation to reduce capacity loss, significant cost reduction in cost of goods, and has the world’s largest high-capacity silicon anode production line in the US.

Media Contact:
Amy Maggart – Corporate Communications Administrator
Global Graphene Group
Tel: (937) 751-6784
[email protected]

The Quest for the Million Mile EV Battery is Heating Up

09/22/2020 by Amy Maggart Leave a Comment

Today is Tesla’s first annual Battery Day. It’s a day to focus on EV technology and what’s next in advancing it towards widespread consumer adoption. We’ve been focusing on how to maximize today’s EV batteries to make them high density, quick charge, affordable and safe for years. At Global Graphene Group, we know that EVs are the future, and our drop-in graphene-enhanced solutions can help EV manufacturers improve their battery function, today.

Elon Musk, Tesla’s CEO, tweeted yesterday that today’s Battery Day announcements will include news on long-term manufacturing of EV’s, including semis, cybertrucks and a roadster.

A leak surfaced recently that a larger cell will be announced during today’s Battery Day. The rumored 4070 cell would be used in batteries for electric semi and cybertrucks. No matter which size the battery cell will be, the heat dissipation will be a more serious problem than the current 2170 cell because heat will need to travel at least twice the distance from the core of the cell.

Heat can be a big spoiler for the EV batteries companies like Tesla are banking on. Heat builds up when batteries are super charged and under continuous driving conditions. That’s exactly what online leaks suggest Tesla has planned with batteries for semi and cybertrucks. While it makes sense to prioritize these types of vehicles in terms of their environmental impact, having delivery trucks and freight carriers with massive batteries driving continuously add up to a potential power disaster.

There’s already evidence of EV batteries losing their power density and becoming unsafe in high heat areas – think Arizona, Texas, Nevada and other areas of the country that tend to heat up. In some of these areas, they experience more than five days per year with temperatures climbing over 100°F. Much of the country experiences temperatures above 80°F throughout the summer months. Those high temps can decrease the battery life dramatically. Lithium-ion batteries have a decreased lifespan under high and continuous heat situations. Vehicles that are heavily used throughout the day with little break and ones driving in tropical weather areas are affected.

Specifically, the corrosion reactions between the battery’s electrolyte and the current collector can be very serious above 113°F. And that is why many EV owners observed reduced charging current when their battery pack reached 113°F during fast-charging in order to prevent the damage. Research shows even just parking outside when the ambient temperature is above 90°F can permanently damage the EV battery. E-trucks are supposed to run for hours continuously every day which will damage the battery pack from heat more than passenger EVs.

So how to EV manufacturers mitigate the high heat issues for their batteries? Of course, a nice cooling system can solve this problem, but it also consumes the energy from the battery and thus shortens the mileage per charge. They could adjust the battery’s power during fast charging when the battery temperature hits the upper temperature limit. But some real data showed up to 50% more time will be needed for fast charging in hot climates, which is a negative for consumers. EV owners could park in the shade or avoid driving during hot days, but that’s not always possible.

While many consider solid-state batteries to be the “holy grail” of EV batteries, but they’re still years away from commercialization. At G³, we have developed a portfolio of graphene-enhanced battery solutions that bridge the gap between today’s lithium-ion batteries and tomorrow’s solid-state.

Our graphene-coated current collector performs much better than bare aluminum current collector, even at temperatures above 131° making it a good fit for military applications under extreme conditions. It would also benefit E-trucks and every EV that needs higher power and real fast-charging. The theory behind this is that HF generated from a chain reaction in electrolyte can damage the surface of the current collector in a Li-ion battery. The corrosion reaction will become more serious when temperatures or voltage are high.

G³‘s graphene-coated Al current collector solves this problem. We did an accelerated cycling test at 55°C between 4.0 and 4.3V, the voltage range the corrosion is serious. You can see that when commercial bare Al was used, the capacity dropped rapidly to <80% capacity retention within 50 cycles.

Our graphene-coated Al current collector can last over hundreds of cycles. 55°C might be considered as an extreme condition but actually the battery can reach this temperature fairly easily. Super-charging, parking under direct sunlight in summer or tropical areas, or continuously driving for hours will let the battery heat to over this temperature and damage the battery permanently. In the future, we will use this product in our cells to improve the cycle life, making it capable of high-power charge/discharge, and giving consumers worry-free parking for days of hot weather. Tesla and other EV OEMs can surely benefit from our graphene-coated current collector.

We’re ready to talk about our EV battery technology. Give us a call at 937-331-9884 or email [email protected] to schedule a time. Our drop-in solutions are ready now and will lower EV battery costs, increase their range and provide a safer battery. Widespread EV adoption is around the corner, and G³ is prepared to be part of the EV revolution.

Lightening Up Ships and Keeping Rust at Bay

09/14/2020 by Amy Maggart Leave a Comment

We rely on goods and products to be shipped around the world each day. Many of the items you purchase may have come from another country, sending weeks or more at sea on their way to your door. There are over 50,000 cargo ships around the world. We rely on these ships to bring our goods from other countries, and to ship our products abroad. Keeping the ships in great shape is a priority. And one of the biggest problems that plague ships is corrosion.

Anti-corrosion coatings are key to ships to limit the damage done to ships. Corrosion takes place from the combination of high moisture and salt-laden sea spray, both of which directly attack the steel of the ship’s hull. Cargo ships can take upwards of a few million gallons of paint to properly coat their hull. Parts of the ship above the waterline will generally get three coats while those below get seven. To keep it in perspective, one gallon of paint cover 400 square feet. The layers of paint on the ships add to the ships’ weight, which means it must reduce the onboard weight. And these ships need to be repainted every few years, leading companies to spend billions of dollars per year.

Graphene has amazing anti-corrosion properties. A small amount of graphene added to paint can dramatically increase the ship’s anti-corrosion resistance. And the graphene-enhanced paint can extend the coating’s life, taking the lifespan of the paint and extending it to 10 or more years between coatings. That’s a cost savings in terms of the man hours it takes to recoat a vessel and the amount of paint it needs to purchase. In addition, the graphene-enhanced pain reduces the coating weight by 50-60%, allowing for more equipment to be onboard the ship.

Another plus of using graphene-enhanced paint is a reduction in zinc dust in the paint. Zinc dust is typically used in paints to for anti-corrosion. And zinc dust is a known carcinogen. By replacing the zinc dust with graphene, the paint is safer for people.

Graphene-enhanced coatings allow less paint to be needed for covering ships. It reduces the weight of the coatings and increases its anti-corrosion properties. The graphene-enhanced paint is more sustainable, lasting upwards of 10 years between recoats. And it is safer for people’s health with less zinc dust being added to the paint mixture.

Graphene Gets You Airborne Faster

08/25/2020 by Amy Maggart Leave a Comment

Have you ever flown in the middle of winter? If you live in or have traveled to areas where snow and ice are the norm during the winter months, you’ve probably spent some time sitting in your seat on an airplane, waiting possibly hours for the plane to be de-iced and ready to take flight. It’s a pain for you, the traveler, and a major pain for the airlines, as it keeps planes on the ground longer and uses chemicals to defrost the plane.

Global Graphene Group is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of aviation. The Wright Brothers built their first airplane and tested it in Dayton. We’re very proud of our aviation heritage. And graphene can have a positive impact on the aerospace industry and the environment. At G3, our team of experts have created thermal films with graphene that can sustainably de-ice airplane windows and wings. Currently, airlines use harsh chemicals and hardware that can go haywire to de-ice. It can take up to an hour and a half to de-ice a typical 747. More extensive snow and ice may involve a truck to spray the plane down with chemicals, which costs more and takes longer. But by adding a thin layer of our graphene-infused thermal film to an airplane’s windows and wings, planes can leverage graphene’s inherent electric conductivity to heat up the windows and wings of the plane. Airplanes will be able to take off in no time, and passengers will be getting where they need to go sooner.

Our thermal film, when added to airplanes, removes the need for chemicals to be used to de-ice the plane. The film keeps those chemicals from running off into our water streams, negatively impacting the environment. Our thermal film also lowers the cost of maintenance on planes by eliminating the hardware needed to manage the chemicals they currently use to de-ice. Airlines are able to de-ice their planes quickly, dramatically decreasing the downtime they currently use.

Give us a call at 937-331-9884 or email ([email protected]) and let’s talk about how graphene can help the aerospace industry be more of a steward to the environment.

Graphene Dramatically Shortens Road Construction Season

08/14/2020 by Amy Maggart 1 Comment

In Global Graphene Group’s home state of Ohio, it is often joked that there are four seasons: winter, construction prep, actual construction and construction wrap-up. When orange cones are lined along the side of the road, Ohioans know they’re in for months of construction fun. There are some highways that seem to always be under construction. When one project ends, another starts.

Ohio is not unique. The US spends billions per year on asphalt ($45B alone on publicly funded highways). Our country has over eight million miles of highways. That’s a lot of asphalt! And a downfall of asphalt is it needs frequent maintenance. (Potholes, am I right?) Asphalt’s impact on the environment is significant, from the production phase through construction, lifetime use and then replacement.

Asphalt can greatly benefit from the addition of graphene:

Reduced emissions during asphalt’s production by 33%
Increased strength of the asphalt by 30+%
Reduced weight and installation costs by a third

Just a tiny amount of graphene leads to using a third of the asphalt to complete a project. An addition of 0.5% of graphene to asphalt can dramatically increase its performance and lower its impact to the environment. Graphene in asphalt makes it more sustainable, meaning there is more time between those construction phases on the road.

Money can be saved at the formation of asphalt. It also saves on transporting it to a site, installing, curing and maintaining it. Graphene-infused asphalt has an increased water resistance. And it has the same strength of traditional asphalt while using a third of the material. It’s like adding super hero powers to the asphalt!

The added strength, durability and moisture resistance leads to less maintenance needed on the roadways. This leads to a huge reduction in infrastructure costs. That $45B annual publicly funded spend suddenly decreases and can be used for other projects. Drivers everywhere rejoice when the orange cones don’t appear along the side of the road in the spring. Graphene makes dreams come true.

Want more information on our graphene-infused asphalt solutions? Contact us at [email protected].

Challenge: Build a Structure Using Half the Material.

08/03/2020 by Amy Maggart Leave a Comment

Have you ever been asked to do more with less? It seems like we’re asked to do more and more with fewer and fewer resources. Use less money, less time, less materials. It’s a difficult task to achieve, especially when thinking in terms of how your actions impact the environment.

When we look at the biggest offenders to the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, concrete is towards the top of the list. Everything from creating the concrete, transporting it and the amount needed to build a structure – it’s all a LOT! Concrete is second only to water as the most-consumer resource on Earth. Concrete is the source of about 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions.

We can’t get away from using concrete. It’s an affordable building material that delivers structural strength and durability. Most buildings are made from it. What we CAN do to help lessen concrete’s environmental impact is make it more responsibly.

Not to mention the regulatory aspect of using concrete… According to this Forbes article, “Under a business-as-usual scenario, the cement company could expect to emit 120 units of GHGs. In the long-term, the goal is for the manufacturer to find ways of producing cement without emitting as many GHGs; to meet its regulatory burden in the short-term, it will need to buy carbon offsets to bring its emissions down to its mandate of 100 units.” Companies need ways to decrease the amount of carbon emissions used in their buildings to earn carbon credits.

Enter graphene.

Adding a small amount of graphene into concrete allows for a 33%+ reduction of material needed for the same load bearing structure. This reduces the amount of CO2 during formation and all the associated transportation. The installation and curing times required are shortened, significantly reducing CO2. Installation and logistics costs are decreased.

Graphene-infused concrete lowers the amount of concrete needed while making the building stronger and more durable. This gives companies more carbon credits for using less material in their structure. Graphene-infused concrete is four times more water resistant and twice as strong as concrete alone.

Reinforce graphene concrete is more environmentally friendly and sustainable. It lowers the amount of maintenance needed on the structure in the long-term, ultimately saving money. It’s a win-win for the company and the environment.

Want more information on our graphene-infused concrete solutions? Contact us at [email protected].

Global Graphene Group Awarded Patent on Elastic Anode Battery Materials

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