Graphene Electrodes for Automotive Supercapacitor Energy Storage (GRAPHELEC)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: WMG
Abstract
Project Summary
This project will obtain accurate data on the practical performance of graphene electrodes within a supercapacitor device
on a scale that is of technological interest for real world application. This will be achieved through R&D activities in
graphene inks production and integration of graphene inks into electrodes for subsequent manufacturing of supercapacitor
coin and pouch cells. The specific application of such devices is in energy storage for low carbon vehicles. The project
directly answers the key question of whether graphene will retain its novel properties when manufactured into real products
for practical applications. Research activities are targeted at identifying the choice and quality of graphene, manufacture
and optimise graphene inks and electrodes for a real supercapacitor device. A Key innovation will be an integrated material
sciences and scale-up engineering approach from materials to manufacturing in order to translate the performance benefits
of graphene from lab discovery into real products.
The Warwick University contribution cross-cuts the complete project programme and aims to deliver a fundamental
advancement in the strategic integration of material science and manufacturing capability within the UK. A key contribution
is the development of a comprehensive methodology for the high throughput assessment of graphene cells, which will
relate the graphene grade and manufacturing method with the energy and power density characteristics of the graphene
devices. Through the unique facilities and industry/academic networks within the WMG High Value Manufacturing (HVM)
Catapult, a real-world demonstration of the successful scale-up and subsequent characterisation of new graphene based
energy storage devices (button cells and supercapacitor cells) will drive confidence within keys sectors (e.g. transport and
energy), accelerate graphene research and stimulate a UK supply-chain.
This project will obtain accurate data on the practical performance of graphene electrodes within a supercapacitor device
on a scale that is of technological interest for real world application. This will be achieved through R&D activities in
graphene inks production and integration of graphene inks into electrodes for subsequent manufacturing of supercapacitor
coin and pouch cells. The specific application of such devices is in energy storage for low carbon vehicles. The project
directly answers the key question of whether graphene will retain its novel properties when manufactured into real products
for practical applications. Research activities are targeted at identifying the choice and quality of graphene, manufacture
and optimise graphene inks and electrodes for a real supercapacitor device. A Key innovation will be an integrated material
sciences and scale-up engineering approach from materials to manufacturing in order to translate the performance benefits
of graphene from lab discovery into real products.
The Warwick University contribution cross-cuts the complete project programme and aims to deliver a fundamental
advancement in the strategic integration of material science and manufacturing capability within the UK. A key contribution
is the development of a comprehensive methodology for the high throughput assessment of graphene cells, which will
relate the graphene grade and manufacturing method with the energy and power density characteristics of the graphene
devices. Through the unique facilities and industry/academic networks within the WMG High Value Manufacturing (HVM)
Catapult, a real-world demonstration of the successful scale-up and subsequent characterisation of new graphene based
energy storage devices (button cells and supercapacitor cells) will drive confidence within keys sectors (e.g. transport and
energy), accelerate graphene research and stimulate a UK supply-chain.
Planned Impact
Consortium Partner
DZP Technologies Ltd (DZP) have been developing graphene materials for the last two years (supported in part by TSB
funding) using graphene synthesis and graphene printing applications. Despite significant technical progress achieved by
the company (and in fact, other producers and developers of graphene), commercialising graphene has proved difficult
because of the lack of confidence by the end users in the actual performance of graphene when scaled-up and
manufactured to meet a real-world problem. DZP have identified significant market and supply chain gaps which so far
have prevented the wider adoption of graphene technologies. The company now considers these markets, combined with
the lack of incumbent players, as a unique business opportunity for the company to grow by expanding its supply chain
position, and becoming a provider of graphene technology solutions (rather than just graphene material). This research will
provide the pre-requisite evidence for the manufacturability of graphene and its performance capabilities when embedded
within a new energy storage device. This evidence will underpin DZPs strategic objectives defined above.
UK Supply Chain
This research further supports the strategic integration of material science, engineering and high value, sustainable,
manufacturing. The research accelerates the formation of a UK based supply chain that is focussed on the technology
scale-up of graphene materials into new products and services. The clear demonstration of graphene based energy
storage devices for the demanding low carbon transport sector will drive end-user confidence with spill-over opportunities
for those organisations (largely UK based high technology SME's ) in others sectors. This research will impact electric and
hybrid marine (such as boats and submarines) that are estimated to be worth over $7.3 billion by 2024, and unmanned
aerial vehicles that are predicted to reach over $1 billion by 2023 (idtechex.com) and consumer electronics (that have a
continual demand for mass and volume de-compounding combined with high energy and power density).
Professional Training
The research milestones will feed directly into the syllabus content of professional educational programmes (at Masters
level) on energy systems, energy materials and advanced manufacturing methods. Companies will benefit from staff with
improved knowledge and skills, with the potential to stimulate shorter-term impact in the commissioning, design and
manufacture of new energy storage technologies.
Public
The wider public will better appreciate the value and role of material science, engineering and manufacturing when
addressing international societal challenges. Students at the WMG Academy for Young Engineers will benefit from a
structured programme of learning (focussed on key STEM subjects), based around state-of-the-art facilities and real-world
problems. Information from the project will be disseminated on a WMG website. The website will facilitate a centralised
repository for relevant open source data and open source WMG publications.
Social
Reduced emissions from transport and the grid through energy storage, reduced reliance on rare earth materials (i.e.
lithium and graphite) that are required for battery manufacture and are highly sought after in related sectors (i.e. electrical
machines and renewable energy).
DZP Technologies Ltd (DZP) have been developing graphene materials for the last two years (supported in part by TSB
funding) using graphene synthesis and graphene printing applications. Despite significant technical progress achieved by
the company (and in fact, other producers and developers of graphene), commercialising graphene has proved difficult
because of the lack of confidence by the end users in the actual performance of graphene when scaled-up and
manufactured to meet a real-world problem. DZP have identified significant market and supply chain gaps which so far
have prevented the wider adoption of graphene technologies. The company now considers these markets, combined with
the lack of incumbent players, as a unique business opportunity for the company to grow by expanding its supply chain
position, and becoming a provider of graphene technology solutions (rather than just graphene material). This research will
provide the pre-requisite evidence for the manufacturability of graphene and its performance capabilities when embedded
within a new energy storage device. This evidence will underpin DZPs strategic objectives defined above.
UK Supply Chain
This research further supports the strategic integration of material science, engineering and high value, sustainable,
manufacturing. The research accelerates the formation of a UK based supply chain that is focussed on the technology
scale-up of graphene materials into new products and services. The clear demonstration of graphene based energy
storage devices for the demanding low carbon transport sector will drive end-user confidence with spill-over opportunities
for those organisations (largely UK based high technology SME's ) in others sectors. This research will impact electric and
hybrid marine (such as boats and submarines) that are estimated to be worth over $7.3 billion by 2024, and unmanned
aerial vehicles that are predicted to reach over $1 billion by 2023 (idtechex.com) and consumer electronics (that have a
continual demand for mass and volume de-compounding combined with high energy and power density).
Professional Training
The research milestones will feed directly into the syllabus content of professional educational programmes (at Masters
level) on energy systems, energy materials and advanced manufacturing methods. Companies will benefit from staff with
improved knowledge and skills, with the potential to stimulate shorter-term impact in the commissioning, design and
manufacture of new energy storage technologies.
Public
The wider public will better appreciate the value and role of material science, engineering and manufacturing when
addressing international societal challenges. Students at the WMG Academy for Young Engineers will benefit from a
structured programme of learning (focussed on key STEM subjects), based around state-of-the-art facilities and real-world
problems. Information from the project will be disseminated on a WMG website. The website will facilitate a centralised
repository for relevant open source data and open source WMG publications.
Social
Reduced emissions from transport and the grid through energy storage, reduced reliance on rare earth materials (i.e.
lithium and graphite) that are required for battery manufacture and are highly sought after in related sectors (i.e. electrical
machines and renewable energy).
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Chee Tong John Low (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | This project investigated the potential of electrode formulations using Graphene as a material for energy storage. In particular, the project has discovered significant variations in performance (energy density, power density, impedance) when scaled from coin cell to pouch cell using industrially relevant scale-up manufacturing processes and methodologies. Our project was one of the first attempts in the UK to scale-up graphene processing using a real-life, industrially relevant manufacturing process. Because of this scale-up innovation, the results from our project are particularly important and relevant to graphene commercialisation. |
| Exploitation Route | The research accelerates the formation of a UK based supply chain that is focused on the technology scale-up of graphene materials into new products and services, in particular graphene for energy storage devices (batteries, supercapacitors) for wearable electronics, low-carbon vehicles and the storage of electricity at 'grid' level. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Chemicals,Education,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
| Description | The challenges in making graphene electrodes for energy storage was successfully identified, which lead to an informed discussion with new collaborators from industry about translation to scale-up manufacture. Based of the industrially relevant research findings obtained from GRAPHELEC, an Innovate UK project has been secured under the Faraday Battery Challenge. The project GRAMOX (reference 28669) is about delivering the scale-up production of graphene-metal oxide composites as Li-ion battery materials, to help company growth for the lead partner Anaphite Ltd (UK). A new project GRAVITY (ref/233857) was awarded to the PI. This project involves R&D in graphene composite materials for Lithium-ion battery activities, focusing on scalability preparedness with the lead partner Anaphite Ltd (UK). |
| Sector | Chemicals,Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |
| Description | Energy Storage Electrode Manufacturing (ELEMENT) |
| Amount | £125,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P026818/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Scalable electrophoretic manufacture of high density 2-dimensional materials for energy storage applications (EL2D) |
| Amount | £99,891 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 72988-499318 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2017 |
| End | 11/2017 |
| Description | Pitching talk to industry KTN event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Activity: Over 60 people attended this industry-focused event 'Faraday Challenge Round 3' in London on the 19th September 2018. Impact: I engaged with industry members through giving a talk about 'Electrode manufacture scale-up', which sparked interests afterwards about collaboration around the Innovation activities for battery materials, cell and battery manufacturing for electric vehicles. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://ktn-uk.co.uk/events/faraday-battery-challenge-innovation-round-3-briefing-event-london |