Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Graphene has emerged on the forefront of science and technology owing to its remarkable properties including high surface areas, excellent thermal, mechanical, chemical and electrochemical stability, along with readily tunable functionality and physical properties. Graphene consists of a 2 dimensional atom-thick graphitic structure, and owing to the remarkable aforementioned properties is projected to play an important role in several applications including electrochemical energy conversion and storage technologies, polymer composites, electronic devices and sensors; with projected market demand to exceed $100 million by 2018.The industrial partner, Grafoid, is a Canadian-based graphene production, development and investment company partnered with Focus Graphite Inc. which has 100% ownership of the Lac Knife, Quebec graphite deposits. Grafoid's multi-layer graphene (trade mark name:MESOGRAF) has extraordinary high electrical/thermal conductivity but low surface area and and lacks the surface functionality necessary to be compatible with the energy storage system electrolytes.The objective of the proposed project is to advance Grafoid's current graphene production techniques to improve the surface area and practical functionality of its graphene products, without compromising electronic conductivity and stability. Armed with a higher performance, value-added graphene product, Grafoid is also interested in exploring new applications for MESOGRAF, such as next generation supercapacitors. While the materials and processes developed in the proposed project will be readily applicable to several fields including batteries, fuel cells, composites and electronics; this project will first target development of supercapacitor electrode materials. The HQP will gain extremely valuable experience with respect to materials processing, nanotechnology, electrochemical testing, electrode fabrication and supercapacitor device assembly. The materials and technologies developed in this project will enhance the capabilities of the Canada energy industry, to gain more market share and lead to future job creation.