University of Wollongong electromaterials researchers' battery breakthrough could fast-track the new energy revolution.
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The researchers are working with private next-generation battery material company, Sicona Battery Technologies (Sicona) to develop cheaper and more efficient Lithium-ion ("Li-ion") batteries.
UOW researchers and Sicona hope their graphene discovery will be the 'game changer' the sector has been waiting for to achieve a healthier planet.
Up until now the adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, has been halted because of the high costs, short lifespan, and long charging times of the batteries.
These obstacles could be a thing of the past thanks to a new form of graphene, known as Edge Functionalised Graphene (EFG).
EFG was developed by ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), UOW and the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) researchers.
Professor David Officer and Distinguished Professor Gordon Wallace led the project to improve the battery materials that go into the anode as well as the cathode.
This form of graphene is both highly conductive and processable.
"Like many materials, finding a way to exploit the extraordinary properties of graphene in useful applications is critically dependent on making the graphene processable," Professor Officer said.
"With EFG, we have been able to not only create a process that produces a unique graphene that can be used as a powder, dough, paste or dispersion, but a process that we believe is commercially scalable. Our commercial partners Sicona have recognised this."
ACES director Professor Gordon Wallace said researchers were now working with Sicona to demonstrate scale-up of production.
"This material, EFG, was discovered in our labs in 2017 and we have since tackled the fundamental research questions around determining what it actually is and, in parallel, issues that will assist translation, including simplifying the manufacturing process," Prof Wallace said.
"Taking amazing discoveries out of the research lab and into industry is a complex process.
"Often, we do not have common interests nor agree on the best way forward.
"But for different reasons we want to get great technologies to those that can use it, so everyone wins."
Sicona founder and CEO, Christiaan Jordaan said the discovery will enable the company to produce even better quality battery materials through adding EFG to enhance the electrical conductivity of the materials.
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Agron Latifi
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
Wollongong born and bred. I love reporting about the Illawarra region and have been doing it for more than 20 years. I've moved into sport recently after covering the education round for the last five plus years for the Illawarra Mercury. It's been a great pleasure.
