Nanoscale Graphene Platelets – a New Class of Nanomaterials

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Future Commercial Graphene Applications

As scientists consider graphene for future applications such as replacing silicon chips, the material continues to make inroads into applications that have shorter development cycles. One of Angstron’s customers, for
example, introduced the world’s first
commercial graphene application for
actuator and sensing components. The
electrical conductivity was attractive to
those seeking such products. Angstron is partnering with companies in other
industries to develop applications for lithium ion batteries, supercapacitors, thermal
management, inks, EMI shielding, nano-
composites, and paints and coatings.

One of the key applications for graphene is the enhancement of polymer materials, including thermosets, thermoplastics, and elastomers. Melt and solution processing techniques typically used for plastics such as injection molding and extrusion can be used to process graphene-polymer
composites. Angstron is working with several customers to develop graphene enhanced nanocomposites and masterbatch materials for a wide range of applications. The various formulation possibilities allow for significant
property customization for the end user. By
selecting specific types of graphene materials and other additives, the nanocomposite can provide enhanced thermal and
electrical conductivity,
mechanical strength, and
barrier properties.

Another of Angstron’s key focuses lies in utilizing the thermal conductivity of its graphene materials for thermal management applications. Working with its customers and partners, Angstron has developed a range of technologies and products that have been incorporated into electronics. The graphene materials can effectively dissipate the
generated heat in order to maintain the
integrated circuits at an acceptable
temperature. Using graphene materials for thermal management applications affords device designers with more flexibility as the graphene based thermal management
materials can be customized to fit the
device requirements.

Graphene is especially well suited for
energy storage applications such as lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, supercapacitors, and fuel cells – initiatives that continue to gain national interest. Graphene is attractive for these uses because it has a very high specific surface area – up to 2,675 square meters per gram and is electrically conductive.
Researchers encounter technical difficulties in improving battery performance because of the inability to maintain conductive
networks within the electrode during
repeated charge-discharge cycles.

With
limited success, researchers have pursued the approach of mixing silicon (Si) nano-
particles with carbon to solve this problem for over a decade. Jang et al. have managed to overcome this long-standing technical challenge through using graphene’s 2-D
geometry and high electrical conductivity [15]. Angstron, and sister company Nanotek Instruments, mixes their NGPs with silicon resulting in a NGP-Si composite that exhibits exceptional energy density while
maintaining its structural integrity through hundreds of charge-discharge cycles.

Products from lab-scale success to commercial reality

There are two sides to the story of
graphene. Academics are spending millions of hours producing fundamental research on the material. Corporations, on the other hand, are working to create commercial
applications that will provide a competitive advantage. The bridge that brings the two sides together has two pillars. Manufactures must provide materials at a reasonable cost (relative to competing materials), high
quality, and volume. In addition, their
technical sales and research and
development staff must monitor the latest findings and provide guidance on the
selection, dispersion and functionalization of graphene. Angstron Materials is at the
forefront of this effort, working to bring
graphene materials and products from
lab-scale success to commercial reality.

Angstron Materials, Inc. is an Ohio-based company that has developed a cost-effective, high- performance, nano-scale material called nano-graphene platelets
(NGPs). Angstron is the first company to
isolate single-layer and multi-layer graphene structures and successfully produce nano graphene sheets in large quantities. Angstron’s nano-graphene materials and several applications are protected by over 150 US patents and several international patents (issued and pending). These patents cover various material compositions and processes for NGPs, NGP nanocomposites, and NGP-based devices.

References:

1. The authors used the Web of Science on line database to perform a topic search using the key word “graphene.”

2. The authors used the Web of Science on line database to perform a topic search using the key word “graphene.”

3. Press Release, The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Awarding of Nobel Prize (Oct. 5, 2010), available at http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/2010/press.html.

4. See e.g., Mitra Yoonessi & James R. Gaier, Highly Conductive Multifunctional Graphene Polycarbonate Nanocomposites, 4 ACS NANO 7211 (2010) (discussing electrical properties); Andrey K. Geim & Allan H. MacDonald, Graphene: Exploring Carbon Flatland, 60 PHYSICS TODAY 35 (2007); Xiaoming Sun et al., Nano-Graphene Oxide for Cellular Imaging and Drug Delivery, 1 Nano Res. 203 (2008), available at http://www.stanford.edu/dept/chemistry/faculty/dai/group/Reprint/144.pdf.

5. See Rafiee, supra note 9.

6. See id.

7. See id.

8. See R.E. PEIERLS, HELV. PHYS. ACTA 7 Suppl I1 81 (1935).

9. See e.g., Hanns-Peter Boehm Boehm et al., Das Adsorptionsverhalten sehr dünner Kohlenstoffolien, 316 Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie 119 (1962).

10. See A.J. van Bommel, J.E. Crombeen & A. van Tooren, LEED and Augerelectron Observations of the SIC(0001) Surface, 48 SURFACE SCI. 463 (1975).

11. Xuekun Lu et al., Tailoring Graphite with the Goal of Achieving Single Sheets, 10 NANOTECH. 269 (1999).

12. See Press Release, supra note 3.

13. See Kostya Novoselov et al., Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films, 306 SCI. 666 (2004).

14. See id.

15. See e.g., US Patent 11/893,398 (filed Aug. 17, 2007).

* Ian Fuller is Director of Marketing and Application Engineering Manager at Angstron Materials Inc..

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