The Global Graphene Group (G3) has a 17-year relationship with graphene since Dr. Bor Jang, cofounder of Nanotek Instruments, Inc., discovered graphene in 2002.

Today, the G3 organization currently consists of three groupings of companies. First, there is Nanotek Instruments that holds the over three hundred patents the company has filed since its inception in 1997.

Another of the three branches involves graphene production and this branch includes Angstron Materials Group and Taiwan Graphene Company. Angstron Materials is involved in producing graphene intermediates and thermal interface materials. Taiwan Graphene Company produces graphene oxide and graphene powder.

The third branch of the corporate structure of G3 involves the company’s energy storage interests. This includes two companies: Honeycomb Battery Company and Angstron Energy Company. Angstron Energy produces both a high-energy silicon anode and a graphene-enabled cathode. Honeycomb Battery is focused on producing lithium-sulfur batteries, non-flammable electrolytes and next-generation lithium battery technologies.

G3 recently became a member of The Graphene Council and we took the opportunity to talk to the company’s representatives, including Dr. Jang. Here is our discussion.

Q: The Global Graphene Group (G3) has an interesting pedigree, being a holding company for Angstron Materials, Nanotek Instruments and Honeycomb Battery. Could you provide a bit of background of how the company came to be and how the various companies that make it up create an overall strategy for the commercialization of graphene?

A: In order to properly answer this question, we would like to tell a brief story about a 17-year relationship with graphene.

Dr. Bor Jang founded Nanotek Instruments Inc. in 1997 and over the past two decades, researchers at Nanotek have developed a broad array of nanomaterials and energy storage and conversion technologies.

A significant accomplishment of Nanotek researchers is the fact that Dr. Jang’s research team discovered/invented graphene in 2002, two years before Drs. A. Geim and K. Novoselov published their first paper on graphene in 2004 [Science 306, 666–669 (October 2004)]. Drs. Geim and Novoselov won the 2010 Nobel Physics Prize for their work on graphene.

There is no doubt that Drs. Geim and Novoselov have made highly significant contributions to graphene science and, as such, well-deserve this Nobel Prize. However, it is important for Graphene Council’s members and associates to recognize that Nanotek researchers had submitted three (3) US patent applications and delivered a lecture on graphene before October 2004 when that milestone paper was published. This fact is evidenced in the following:

• B. Z. Jang and W. C. Huang, “Nano-scaled Graphene Plates,” US Patent Application No. 10/274,473 (submitted on 10/21/2002); now U.S. Pat. No. 7,071,258 (issued 07/04/2006).
• B. Z. Jang, et al. “Process for Producing Nano-scaled Graphene Plates,” U.S. Patent Application No. 10/858,814 (06/03/2004).
• Bor Z. Jang, “Nanocomposite compositions for hydrogen storage and methods for supplying hydrogen to fuel cells,” US Pat. Appl. No. 10/910,521 (08/03/2004); now US Pat. No. 7,186,474 (03/06/2007).
• W. Schwalm, M. Schwalm, and B. Z. Jang, “Local Density of States for Nanoscale Graphene Fragments,” Am. Phy. Soc. Paper No. C1.157, 03/2004, Montreal, Canada.

(In March 2004, Dr. Jang and his colleagues (Drs. W. Schwalm, M. Schwalm, and J. Wagner) presented a paper at the American Physical Society’s Annual Meeting in Montreal, Canada that discussed the density of state function and related electronic properties of graphene.)

Contrary to the common misconception in the graphene space that the liquid phase exfoliation method was developed in 2008 by a Dublin College team (Hernandez, Y. et al. “High-yield production of graphene by liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite,” Nature Nanotechnology, 3, 563–568 (2008)), Dr. Zhamu/Dr. Jang’s research team at Nanotek developed this method and filed a patent application in 2007.

This provides an effective way of producing pristine graphene directly from graphite without chemical intercalation or oxidation [A. Zhamu, et al., “Method of Producing Exfoliated Graphite, Flexible Graphite, and Nano-Scaled Graphene Plates,” US Patent Application No. 11/800,728 (05/08/2007); now US Patent No. 7,824,651 (11/02/2010)].

Between 2002 and 2007, the Nanotek teams also developed other important graphene production processes, including chemical oxidation, supercritical fluid exfoliation, and electrochemical exfoliation.

Supported by significant IP on several different graphene production processes and graphene applications in composites, thermal management, supercapacitor, and batteries, etc., Drs. Zhamu and Jang decided to co-found Angstron Materials, Inc. in 2007 to begin to scale-up of selected graphene production processes and certain graphene application products.

Subsequently, after many years of development, prototyping, and mass production efforts and establishment of a vast IP portfolio, we found the timing was right for us to establish several business units for more effective commercialization of vastly different products for different industries.

Taiwan Graphene Company (TGC) was founded in 2015 as a leading producer of single-layer graphene oxide, graphene-based nano-intermediates and non-energy-focused application products. Angstron Energy Company (AEC) was founded in 2015 as producer of lithium battery anode and cathode materials. Honeycomb Battery Company (HBC) was also founded in 2015 as a developer and producer of next-generation safe and long-lasting lithium metal batteries, including quasi-solid state battery, lithium-sulfur battery, and lithium-air battery. Angstron Materials was assigned as a research and development company for development of new processes and products. Nanotek remains as the IP-holding company. As suggested by our investors, we also decided to position all five organizations under one umbrella – Global Graphene Group (G3).

Q: How are you marketing graphene at this point, i.e. are you selling graphene raw materials, master batches, etc.? Or are you developing products that incorporate graphene, specifically for Li-ion batteries? Are there other applications you’re pursuing in addition to energy storage?

A: Our Taiwan Graphene Co. (TGC) is selling graphene in powder and dispersion forms, masterbatches for composites, thermal management products, etc. Angstron Energy Co. (AEC) is selling graphene-enabled Si anode materials and graphene-enhanced cathode materials for the lithium-ion battery industry. Honeycomb Battery Company (HBC) is poised to commercialize lithium metal protection technology, non-flammable electrolytes, graphene-enabled sulfur and selenium cathodes, and graphene-enhanced current collectors for next-generation lithium batteries.

Q: What production methods do you use to make your graphene? How has this production avenue determined the applications for your material?

A: We use a combination of improved chemical oxidation process, liquid phase exfoliation, and other proprietary processes, which G3 invented. We have found that different applications require the use of different graphene types produced by different processes.

Q: What have you discovered to be the biggest challenges for your commercialization of graphene and how have you overcome them?

A: We see the greatest challenge to commercialization that it takes time to qualify the application of graphene into various products. We have relationships with several large OEMs in different markets working with our graphene. It just takes time to go through the qualification process.

Q: What direction do you see for the company in the future? Do you see the company moving further up the value chain to the point where all your graphene production is used internally?

A: The future is to grow. We’re targeting to reach $600m+ in annual sales within the next five years between the combination of products in our value chain and graphene raw materials.

Q: What do you think we can expect in the commercialization of graphene over the next 5 to 10 years?

A: Several major applications (so-called killer applications) of graphene are expected to emerge soon. We will see exponential growth as customers integrate graphene into their products to a point where large expansions of graphene manufacturing are necessary. The challenge will be keeping up with the demand.

Global Graphene Group Co-Founder Named As National Graphene Association Newest Advisory Board Member

NASHVILLE, TN – The National Graphene Association (NGA), the main organization and body in the U.S. advocating and promoting the commercialization of graphene, announces Global Graphene Group (G3) as the newest member of the NGA Industry Council and the addition of G3’s Co-Founder, Dr. Aruna Zhamu, joining the NGA Advisory Board.

NGA’s Industry Council is an exclusive, invitation-only membership category, available to a select group of influential graphene companies positioned to assume the leading role in the development of the global graphene market and advancing the commercialization of graphene.

G3’s Dr. Aruna Zhamu will join the National Graphene Association’s Advisory Board. Dr. Zhamu is recognized as the inventor of the world’s first graphene production process and serves as the Vice President of New Product / Process Development for G3. Aruna is also the President of Honeycomb Battery Company, one of G3’s subsidiaries. She is one of only a handful of female scientists to hold over 150 U.S. patents. Dr. Zhamu joins Dr. Bor Jang, co-founder and chief executive officer of G3, on the NGA Advisory Council.

G3 is the market leader in the graphene industry, holding over 400 US patents and applications. It is the first company to mass produce single-layer graphene and graphene oxide, graphene-enabled Si anode materials (the highest-capacity materials for Li-ion batteries), and graphene-based heat spreaders. G3, in partnership with its Angstron Energy Company, received a R&D 100 award for the development of their graphene composite anode (GCA) technology in 2018.

“We fully support the work the National Graphene Association does to promote the commercialization of graphene,” says Dr. Zhamu. “I look forward to working with the NGA’s Advisory Board.”

“At G3, we are committed to aggressively expanding our manufacturing and technology to bring graphene-based solutions to market,” says Dr. Zhamu.

NGA Executive Director, Zina Jarrahi Cinker, says, “We are delighted to have G3 join our elite Industry Council and Dr. Zhamu to join the NGA Advisory Board. Together, we look forward to advancing the graphene industry beyond its current state and facilitating the integration of graphene in key markets.”

About Global Graphene Group (G3) G3, headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, is the holding company for five subsidiaries: Nanotek Instruments is the Intellectual Property arm of G3 with more than 160 issued U.S. patents. Taiwan Graphene Company is the largest volume producer of 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 is focused on commercializing next generation lithium ion battery electrodes, batteries enhanced with graphene, and improved battery manufacturing processes. Angstron Materials is the R&D and product application company. Angstron Energy Company produces graphene-wrapped nano silicon particles to improve anode stability, prelithiation to reduce capacity loss, significant cost reduction in cost of goods, and an operational pilot line with 50 TPA capacity in the US.

About the National Graphene Association The National Graphene Association (NGA) is the primary organization and body in the United States advocating and promoting the commercialization of graphene and addressing critical issues such as standards and policy development. Dubbed the “wonder material of 21st century,” graphene is the thinnest and strongest material ever discovered. Graphene is one atomic layer of carbon — transparent, flexible, and an excellent thermal and electrical conductor. NGA convenes current and future graphene stakeholders from graphene companies, research bodies, suppliers, developers, investors, venture capitalist and government agencies to drive innovation and expedite the commercialization of graphene technologies globally. Founded in 2016 by Dr. Ed Meek, the National Graphene Association is headquartered in Oxford, Mississippi, USA.

Graphene is a two-dimensional nanomaterial with the highest thermal conductivity value* among all known materials. G3’s heat spreader, AT1500, offers a significant performance improvements over current heat spreading products such as PGS (Pyrolytic Graphite Sheet). Our IP-protected single-layer graphene technology enables us to produce a range of thicknesses from 20um-100um for different heat dissipation requirements. This range can also maximize your heat conduction flux capacity in confined and limited spaces.By controlling the alignment and orientation in the x-y direction of each graphene layer, AT1500 guarantees the highest in-plane thermal conductivity.** The thickness advantage of AT1500 cannot be reproduced by current PGS manufactures, which are limited to <40um. Even beyond 100um, G3 can precisely tailor the heat spreader thickness to meet your design expectations while still maintaining the highest thermal conductivity

In fact, our AT1500 at a thickness of 40um has out-performed PGS manufacturers at the same thickness and with bigger temperature drop and better temperature uniformity.

G3 now has roll-to-roll manufacturing capabilities to manufacture 60k sqm/year of freestanding and/or PET backed AT1500.

For more information on thermal management solutions that leverage the benefits of graphene, please visit www.theglobalgraphenegroup.com/thermal-management-materials

*~5,300 W/m•K

**1500-1700 W/m•K

For many, the change of seasons isn’t just about weather and longer days, but a change in sports. One of our favorites at G3 is lacrosse, with teams from high school to major league kicking off in the spring. G3 recently teamed with @ECDLacrosse in the development of material for their Rebel +Graphene heads, which were released in a limited edition.

Graphene’s properties, including its light weight and impact resistance, are featured in the customized composite of G3’s graphene with ECD’s polymer. The resulting Rebel +Graphene lacrosse heads exhibit increased impact strength, increased stiffness, and no perceptible additional weight.

We look forward to seeing the lab-tested results play out in on the field in the upcoming season!

We are all familiar with lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). They power everything from smart phones, laptops, medical devices, electric vehicles and even grid storage. With major companies like CATL, Northvolt, and Tesla currently scaling up their production of LiBs, it is permissible if you’ve forgotten that LiBs are in fact a relatively mature technology. To recap, a typical lithium-ion battery uses carbon (graphite) as an negative electrode and lithium-metal oxide (e.g., NCA, NCM, LCO) as a positive electrode. Using these materials, a LiB’s energy density tops out around 700 Wh/L. Companies are seeking higher energy for space-limited applications, especially electric vehicles, and thus tinkering with the materials inside traditional LiBs to do so. The question bears asking: What then, exactly, are they doing? What comes after LiBs?