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SPONSOR: Gratomic Inc. (TSX-V: GRAT) Advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products, most notably high value graphene based components for a range of mass market products. Collaborating with Perpetuus, Gratomic will use Aukam graphite to manufacture graphene products for commercialization on an industrial scale. For More Info Click Here

• The wonder material is yet to live up to its potential but an Indian startup is weaving dreams with this form of carbon

The molecule is priceless, but it’s not the cost — a few lakh rupees per kilo — that helped graphene win the epithet of “wonder material” or “possibly the most remarkable substance discovered” in scientific circles.

Graphene owes its impressive resume to its multiple attributes — strong, flexible, light, transparent, waterproof and a good conductor of electricity. Ever since it was discovered in 2004, scientists have been speculating about its potential uses — replacing silicon in electronics, indium in touchscreens and liquid polymer in bulletproof vests. Unfortunately, the wonder material has failed to deliver on its promises and still has a long way to go.

Despite that, scientists and entrepreneurs haven’t stopped pumping billions of dollars and man hours into the quest for new inventions with graphene that can transform sectors such as electronics, energy, health and construction.

Log 9 Materials, a Bangalore-based nanotechnology start-up, has been chasing the graphene dream since it was founded in 2015 by IIT-Roorkee graduates Akshay Singhal and Kartik Hajela. It has been trying to tame the material in many avatars — cigarette filters, batteries for electronic vehicles and coatings for aircraft. Their latest foray is into industrial clean up, including oil leaks and oil spills. Liquid petroleum often gets accidentally released into oceans, bays and rivers during transport and the spill does irreparable damage to aquatic life.

“The oil sorbent pads (LSP 20) innovated by us help contain and absorb off-shore and on-shore [oil] spills as well as spills of other chemicals,” says Akshay Singhal, co-founder and chief executive officer of Log 9 Materials. “LSP 20 is able to absorb spills up to 86 times its own weight. It has been tested against British Standards by third party laboratories and has also been certified safe to incinerate and dispose,” he adds.

There is always a risk of spillage during exploration, transportation and storage of oil. Spills have the potential to cause irreparable ecological damage in sea and on land. In situ combustion, oil booms and oil skimmer vessels are used to clean up such spills but are not very efficient. The products and particulates emitted through oil combustion pollute the atmosphere while booms and skimmers, which are meant to confine the spill to a specific location for collection, do not work well in turbulent water.

One of the most economical and efficient means of removing oil spills is to use sorbents that repel water (hydrophobic) but absorb oil (oleophilic).

Akshay Singhal, co-founder and chief executive officer of Log 9 Materials

One of the most efficient means of removing oil spills is to use sorbents that repel water but absorb oil

Various natural absorbers such as expanded perlite and zeolites, organic materials such as wool fibre, activated carbon and sawdust have all been used as sorbents because of their extremely small pores. However, these materials are incapable of absorbing oil without the water. That is why new materials are needed that can sequester oil and remove it. Various microporous polymers have been studied due to their large specific surface area and hydrophobicity. Although they show relative high absorption ability, the cost of these kinds of sorbents is also high.

Graphene, discovered at the University of Manchester, UK, in 2004, consists of thin flakes of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal structure. It has a high surface area. While a typical carbon atom has a diameter of about 0.33 nano metres, there are about three million layers of graphene in 1mm of graphite — a crystalline form of the element, carbon. Harder than diamond but more elastic than rubber, tougher than steel yet lighter than aluminium, it can be processed into various unique structures. Several graphene-based structures have been designed and fabricated over the past decade to strongly repel water (superhydrophobic) but absorb oil (superoleophilic) efficiently. These characteristics make graphene an ideal candidate for selective absorption of oil spills.

“We manufacture products to control spills of all forms, using graphene. These products can be used to prevent, control and clean spills in and around marine or terrestrial ecosystems,” says Dhananjay Sharma, director and chief executive officer, Log 9 Spill Containment Pvt. Ltd.

“The company has a larger agenda to educate various industries and businesses about the value propositions attached to using graphene-based products or offerings with respect to cost savings and environmental impact,” he adds.

While graphene has countless potential applications, Log 9’s focus is on two main areas: filtration and energy. Apart from the oil sorbent pad, they are currently working on a metal-air battery which could replace the current lithium ion batteries.

Says Singhal, “This battery makes use of the interaction of air, water and aluminium. The air cathode made of graphene generates electricity, thus making it lighter in weight compared to lithium ion batteries.” Moreover, these batteries can run about 1,000km on a single charge compared to 100-150km of the current ones.

Technology usually progresses at a slow pace. Swedish chemist Jakob Berzilius purified silicon in 1824 but it took more than a century for the semiconductor — used to run all modern electronic gadgets — industry to develop. Most of the components of today’s smartphones, from microprocessors to touchscreens, were also invented in the 1960s. It is, therefore, expected that it will take some time for more horizons to open up in the world of graphene. It is laudable that an Indian start-up has dared to join graphene’s innovation race.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/science/bend-it-like-graphene/cid/1708387

SPONSOR: Gratomic Inc. (TSX-V: GRAT) Advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products, most notably high value graphene based components for a range of mass market products. Collaborating with Perpetuus, Gratomic will use Aukam graphite to manufacture graphene products for commercialization on an industrial scale. For More Info Click Here

Key players operating in the global electric vehicle composites market include LANXESS, Hexagon Composites ASA, Solvay Group, Carbo Tech Composites GmbH, and DowDuPont.

• Consume less fuel and they do not pollute the air
• Exxon Company has fabricated an all-graphite frame and a glass/graphite hybrid body for its electric vehicles

Electric vehicles are gaining wide popularity, as they consume less fuel and they do not pollute the air. An electric vehicle uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. Governments across the globe are adopting and implementing favorable policies for promotion of electric vehicles. Composite materials used for production of various components of electric vehicles improve fuel efficiency. High strength and low density are two significant features of composite materials used in electric vehicles. A composite material used in electric vehicles is generally a combination of two components: a resin or matrix and a fiber or filler. The growing trend of abolition of conventional steel and cast iron in vehicles so as to make them lightweight has led to development of automotive components with lightweight materials. Due to their resistance to corrosion and fatigue, composites are more durable and hence, they are expected to last for the entire lifespan of the electric vehicle. Electric vehicle manufacturers make use of composite body/chassis components for extending the lifespan of hybrid electric vehicles as well as battery electric vehicles.

Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/electric-vehicle-composites-market.html

Increasing usage of lightweight materials with an aim to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is considered a major factor driving the electric vehicle composites market. Electric vehicle composites offer superior strength-to-weight ratio. Development of battery electric and hybrid electric vehicles offering long travel distance led by their reduced weight is anticipated to propel the electric vehicle composites market during the forecast period. Exxon Company has fabricated an all-graphite frame and a glass/graphite hybrid body for its electric vehicles, achieving a total weight reduction of 200 lbs. Budd Company, due to its subcontract with Ai Research, has achieved significant reduction in the weight of parts by using glass-reinforced polyester. Several electric vehicle manufacturers are opting for the development of sustainable composite materials for their automobile components.

In terms of material, the electric vehicle composites market can be classified into resins and fibers. The commonly employed resins include polyamide, polyester, epoxy, and polyurethane. The fibers segment comprises graphene, carbon nanotubes, glass, and aramids. In terms of structural component, the market can be categorized into exterior body panels, canter consoles, cross beam frames, and bumpers. In terms of application, the electric vehicle composites market can be divided into hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and fuel cell electric vehicles.Geographically, the global electric vehicle composites market can be classified into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East & Africa. Various governments across the globe are promoting use of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) through high subsidies and tax rebates.

Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=65759

BEVs is the most preferred choice of electric vehicles in China, which is the prominent market for electric vehicle composites in Asia Pacific. Advancements in material science and technology and increasing demand from the automotive industry are augmenting the electric vehicle composites market in Asia Pacific. North America is another significant market for electric vehicle composites across the globe. Tesla, a global leader in electric vehicle manufacturing, is located in California, the U.S. The electric vehicle composites market in Latin America and Middle East & Africa is estimated to expand at a moderate pace during the forecast period, owing to the recent economic growth in these regions.

SOURCE: https://financialexpressnow.com/2019/09/electric-vehicle-composites-market-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecasts-2027/

SPONSOR: Gratomic Inc. (TSX-V: GRAT) Advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products, most notably high value graphene based components for a range of mass market products. Collaborating with Perpetuus, Gratomic will use Aukam graphite to manufacture graphene products for commercialization on an industrial scale. For More Info Click Here

A study found that insects changed their behavior around the material.

Graphene, the highly flexible supermaterial used to build solar cells (and perhaps one day foldable phones), is also a powerful mosquito repellent. A team of researchers at Brown University discovered that graphene-lined clothing not only is an effective physical barrier to mosquito bites, the carbon-based material also changes their behavior. The study, which was published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that graphene blocked the chemical signals that draw mosquitoes to other living beings in the first place.

“With the graphene, the mosquitoes weren’t even landing on the skin patch — they just didn’t seem to care,” said Brown Ph.D student Cintia Castillho, who is the study’s lead author. “We had assumed that graphene would be a physical barrier to biting, through puncture resistance, but when we saw these experiments we started to think that it was also a chemical barrier that prevents mosquitoes from sensing that someone is there.” In the study, researchers covered the arms of participants in either graphene oxide films covered by cheesecloth or just cheesecloth. Those who were covered in graphene didn’t receive a single bite.

Unfortunately, graphene oxide becomes far less effective when wet, which is exactly the type of environment where mosquitoes thrive. Scientists found that mosquitoes were able to puncture through graphene oxide films that were soaked in water. But when they used graphene with reduced oxygen content (rGO), they discovered it worked as a bite barrier in both dry and wet conditions.

One drawback is that rGO isn’t breathable, so it’s unlikely to be used in camping clothing. Scientists hope to find a way to stabilize graphene so it remains strong when wet. “This next step would give us the full benefits of breathability and bite protection,” said Brown University professor Robert Hurt.

If you’re curious about graphene, you won’t have long to wait. Makers of outdoor gear and electronics are already adding graphene to jackets, battery packs, shoes and more.

Source: https://www.engadget.com/2019/08/27/graphene-mosquito-repellent-boston-university-study/

SPONSOR: Gratomic Inc. (TSX-V: GRAT) Advanced materials company focused on mine to market commercialization of graphite products, most notably high value graphene based components for a range of mass market products. Collaborating with Perpetuus, Gratomic will use Aukam graphite to manufacture graphene products for commercialization on an industrial scale. For More Info Click Here

• Smartphones and portable electronic devices are omnipresent in the world we live in today. We rely heavily on these gadgets to complete a wide range of daily tasks from simple reminders and calendar events to more complex assignments and applications as powerful business tools.

• At some point in the day, we will find ourselves rushing around a room searching for a plug or USB socket as a cable dangles from our hands because the lithium-ion batteries that currently power our devices still only hold a limited charge.

However, frustrations such as this could soon be a thing of the past. According to the reliable tech-tipster Evan Blass, Samsung is gearing up to a 2021 launch of their usually hotly anticipated Galaxy series to come equipped with a more efficient longer-lasting graphene battery.

On Monday, Evan Blass tweeted, “Samsung is hoping to have at least one handset either next year or in 2021, I’m told, which will feature a graphene battery instead.”

Capable of a full charge in under a half-hour, they still need to raise capacities while lowering costs.

Evan Blass

Graphene batteries are believed to be the optimal solution and alternative to the current generation of lithium-ion batteries on the market. With higher electrical and heat conductivity compared to lithium-ion solutions, graphene is also superior due to its lightweight, flexible and durable qualities. For these reasons, we can begin to understand why graphene has been hailed as a ‘wonder material’.

So, what would be the benefits of using the material graphene as an alternative to lithium-ion in battery packs?

Slimline solutions: having already discussed how graphene is lightweight, we should also consider that when you stack 3 million layers of this material, it only amounts to 1 mm of thickness. This could mean that manufacturers can place small high-capacity batteries in devices to reduce the overall size of the device for compactness or enhance other capabilities and overall performance.

Faster charging times: this increases the battery endurance compared to lithium-ion batteries as the conductivity capabilities of graphene offers little to no resistance to the flow of electrons.

Reduced thermal output: because of its ability to dissipate heat much more effectively, graphene can reduce the operating temperature of smart devices. This means better performance and safety when charging or operating the device for complex tasks or gaming.

These may be of particular interest to a company like Samsung who have previously been affected by battery issues, particularly concerning the overheating issues of the Note7 back in 2016. This led to Samsung implementing an eight-point inspection process for batteries as well as stepping up its research into battery technology, making significant progress in recent years.

We need only look back to 2017 when Samsung revealed its researchers developed a “graphene ball” material capable of five times faster-charging speeds than standard lithium-ion batteries. Coupled with Blass’s latest claims, it is plausible to expect that we will see graphene batteries go mainstream within the next couple of years.

With products likely restricted to select smartphones and smart devices initially, we can also anticipate further developments on other applications for graphene in the coming years. For example, Tesla are showing interest in metal-air batteries which utilize a graphene rod as a cathode. These types of battery can increase battery efficiency up to five times at just one-third of the cost and because of the greater abundance of carbon, compared to a rare metal like lithium, manufacturers will continue to research its potential as they have been trying to implement the use of graphene as a material in about everything since its discovery in 2004.

So, it would suffice to say that graphene batteries are definitely set to be a game-changer and put an end to panicked searches for a place to charge devices or carrying around multiple charging packs to get through a busy day.

SOURCE: https://www.azonano.com/news.aspx?newsID=36942