The Promise of Graphene Oxide in Intumescent Coatings
Intumescent coatings are specialized paints applied to concrete and steel structures in industrial and residential buildings to offer fire protection. They provide safety by allowing enough time for evacuation and assistance in the event of a fire.
During a fire, these coatings expand and form a carbonized foam that isolates the fire and limits its spread, while simultaneously releasing non-combustible gases that reduce the oxygen concentration around the structures, protecting them from significant damage for approximately 1 to 3 hours.
The main components of intumescent coatings are a polymeric binder, an acid source (e.g., ammonium polyphosphate – APP), an expansion additive (e.g., melamine – MEL), a carbon source (e.g., pentaerythritol – PER), and other filler elements (e.g., expandable graphite), which often influence the expansion factor and fire retardancy.
Despite their efficiency, the carbonized foam formed by the APP-MEL-PER system may have poor oxidation resistance at high temperatures, leading to lower fire-retardant efficiency and easier destruction during combustion. Therefore, other additives such as calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, silica, and certain carbon materials have been explored to enhance their protection. For example, expandable graphite in epoxy coatings improves thermal degradation and fire resistance; carbon nanotubes reduce the heat release rate in polymers, and graphene oxide (GO), thanks to its reticular nanostructure, has been identified as an effective thermal barrier to prevent flame diffusion and reduce heat propagation. This occurs because GO, when evenly dispersed within the coating matrix, forms a “tortuous path” that reduces the thermal diffusion rate and matrix decomposition, thus improving fire resistance and mechanical strength.
Although no intumescent coatings with graphene oxide are currently on the market, research has shown that GO can improve the APP-MEL-PER system by promoting the decomposition reaction of APP, which accelerates the formation of phosphoric acid that reacts with PER to form carbon. While it has been observed that GO may slightly decrease the thermal stability of coatings, its presence encourages gas production and intumescent coefficients, reducing thermal conductivity.
Energeia-Graphenemex®, in collaboration with a renowned Mexican specialized coatings company, is working on a new development to launch the first intumescent coating with graphene oxide to continue placing Mexico at the forefront of new technologies.
Authored by: EF/DHS
References:
Wang Zhan et al., Influence of graphene on fire protection of intumescent fire retardant
coating for steel structure, Energy Reports 6 (2020) 693;
Qiuchen Zhang et al., Effects and Mechanisms of Ultralow Concentrations of Different Types of Graphene Oxide Flakes on Fire Resistance of Water-Based Intumescent Coatings, Coatings 2024, 14, 162;
M. Sabet, et al., The Effect of Graphene Oxide on Flame Retardancy of Polypropylene and Polystyrene, Materials Performance and Characterization 9, no. 1 (2020): 284;
Cheng‑Fei Cao et al., Fire Intumescent, High‑Temperature Resistant, Mechanically Flexible Graphene Oxide Network for Exceptional Fire Shielding and Ultra‑Fast Fire Warning, Nano-Micro Lett. (2022) 14:92;
Quanyi Liu et al., Recent advances in the flame retardancy role of graphene and its derivatives in epoxy resin materials. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 2021, 149, 106539
The origins of plastic trace back to 1860 in the United States when Phelan & Collander, amid an ivory shortage—a material widely used for billiard balls, piano keys, jewelry, and decorative structures—announced a call for a material capable of replacing ivory, offering substantial financial compensation for the time. John Wesley Hyatt proposed “celluloid,” a plant-based carbohydrate that, while not fully replacing ivory, became the stepping stone for the development of plastic, with immediate successors like Bakelite and PVC leading to today’s engineering plastics.
The term “plastic” comes from the Greek “plastikos,” meaning “moldable.”
Plastics are synthetic materials obtained through various polymerization processes from petroleum derivatives. Their evolution and refinement have made them essential to numerous industries and activities. However, after years of unchecked use, plastics have become both a solution for many needs and a significant environmental and health issue, as their versatility and demand have also led to increased waste. As a result, the not-so-new philosophy of sustainable circularity, or the circular economy, involves not only awareness of resource use but also economic, infrastructure, and recycling process adaptations.
Recycling involves reprocessing used materials, such as plastics, for reuse. While an excellent tool for preserving natural resources and reducing waste, two key points must be considered. First, recycling doesn’t apply in all cases because not all plastics are recyclable. Second, reprocessing involves stages where materials may lose properties compared to virgin plastics, limiting their use in many industrial applications.
Over the past 20 years, nanotechnology’s intervention in modifying polymers like polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), among others, with carbon nanoparticles like graphene or carbon nanotubes (CNTs), has yielded interesting results regarding improved mechanical, rheological, electrical, and thermal properties. Graphene’s advantage over CNTs, in addition to other intrinsic properties, lies in its sheet-like structure, whose large surface area and greater dispersibility allow it to create more homogeneous phases, improving load transfer and thereby increasing the mechanical strength of modified plastics.
Companies such as Gerdau Graphene (Brazil), Graphenetech S.L. (Spain), Colloids (UK), and Energeia-Graphenemex (Mexico) have positioned various types of graphene-based masterbatches or concentrated plastics in the market over the past five years. Although each company has its own objectives and markets, there are environmental and economic points of convergence that motivated them to improve the plastic industry. Graphene, even in low concentrations (< 2% by weight), can enhance the quality of both virgin and recycled polymers. For example, graphene can increase flexural modulus by 30%, impact resistance by 40%, tensile strength by 17%, and resistance to rupture by 60%. It can also improve resistance to photodegradation. Depending on the specific needs of each development or application, it is possible to restore some of the mechanical properties of recycled plastics and/or extend the material’s lifespan to reduce the circulation of single-use plastics or, alternatively, achieve the same mechanical properties of polymers with reduced thickness.
Energeia – Graphenemex®, the leading Mexican company in Latin America in graphene material research and production for industrial applications, launched a wide range of graphene-based masterbatches in 2023 through its Graphenergy Masterbatch line, designed to be used as multifunctional reinforcement additives. Key advantages include:
Excellent dispersion within the polymer matrix
Can be incorporated into recycled polymers
Increase tensile, deformation, and impact resistance
Act as nucleating agents (modify polymer crystallization temperature).
Drafting: EF/DHS
References:
Ramazan Asmatulu et al., Synthesis and Analysis of Injection-Molded Nanocomposites of Recycled High-Density Polyethylene Incorporated With Graphene Nanoflakes, POLYMER COMPOSITES—2015;
Feras Korkees et al., Functionalised graphene effect on the mechanical and thermal properties of recycled PA6/PA6,6 blends. 2021 Journal of Composite Materials 55(16);
Devinda Wijerathne et. al., Mechanical and graphe properties of graphene nanoplatelets-reinforced recycled polycarbonate composites. International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture 6 (2023) 117e128;
Abdou Khadri Diallo et al., A multifunctional additive for sustainability, Sustainable Materials and Technologies, 33, 2022, e000487.
Towards a More Sustainable and Efficient Cement Industry
Part 2
For the cement industry, reducing CO2 emissions is not a new topic. Over the past 30 years, producers have managed to reduce approximately 40% of the fuel needed for the clinkerization process, thus reducing CO2 emissions by the same proportion, given that around 900 g of CO2 are produced per kilogram of cement.
Over ten years ago, a collaboration between the International Energy Agency, the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), and the Inter-American Cement Federation (FICEM) established the first roadmap for emission reduction. This laid the groundwork for the National Chamber of Cement (CANACEM), FICEM, and companies such as CEMEX, Cruz Azul, Cementos Chihuahua, Cementos Fortaleza, Holcim México, and Cementos Moctezuma to evaluate emissions and determine strategies for low-carbon cement production.
According to the CANACEM roadmap, the main indicators for CO2 reduction are 1) the Clinker/Cement ratio, 2) co-processing, 3) energy efficiency, and 4) exploring new technologies such as CO2 capture, clinker reduction, and cement reinforcement.
In a previous article addressing environmental challenges in the construction industry and the goal of net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050, key opportunities for graphene nanotechnology in sustainable construction were highlighted, including:
Cement reduction,
Waste utilization,
Cost reduction,
Energy efficiency.
On September 4, the website https://www.graphene-info.com/ published the new edition of the Graphene-enhanced Construction Materials Market Report, which delves deeper into the advantages of using graphene in construction materials, related companies, ongoing projects, and research.
Graphene oxide (GO) is a carbon-based nanomaterial with sheet-like structures smaller than 100 nm or 0.1 microns in width and only one atom thick. It has hydroxyl (OH), epoxy (-O-), carboxyl (COOH), and carbonyl (C=O) functional groups on its surface that allow it to interact with cement C-S-H crystals, improving the hydration process. The properties of GO that make it attractive as a chemical modifier for cement include high tensile strength (130 GPa), large surface area (2630 m²/g), high thermal conductivity (5300 W/mK), and barrier properties. This interaction helps improve the properties of cement-based structures, such as concrete, resulting in the following:
Reduced cement consumption in concrete structures while achieving similar mechanical properties, with compressive strength increased by 5% to 30%, tensile strength by 8% to 20%, elastic modulus by 4% to 12%, and abrasion resistance by 10% to 12%.
Better quality and more durable concrete structures due to lower porosity, increasing impermeability by 12% to 60%, improving performance in aggressive environments.
Enhanced thermal diffusivity of concrete, providing better thermal crack control, fire resistance, and de-icing capability for pavements.
Improved workability, better appearance of structures, faster setting time, and easier mold release, as GO acts as a catalyst in the cement hydration reaction.
Protection against microbiologically induced corrosion, as GO limits the conditions necessary for microbial attachment and reproduction.
Since 2018, Energeia-Graphenemex® has been exploring the benefits of graphene nanotechnology across various industrial sectors. As experts in the field, they recommend conducting validation tests, considering the multiple variables in the construction sector, especially those related to new cement compositions, to achieve optimal dosage results, always guided by trained personnel.
Authored by: EF/DHS
References
M. Murali et al., Utilizing graphene oxide in cementitious composites: A systematic review. Case Studies in Construction Materials 17 (2022) e01359.
Z. Pan, et al., Mechanical properties and microstructure of a graphene oxide–cement composite, Cem. Concr. Compos. vol. 58 (2015) 140–147, https://doi. org/10.1016/j.cemconcomp.2015.02.001
E. Cuenca, L. D’Ambrosio, D. Lizunov, A. Tretjakov, O. Volobujeva, L. Ferrara, Mechanical properties and self-healing capacity of ultra high performance fibre reinforced concrete with alumina nano-fibres: tailoring ultra high durability concrete for aggressive exposure scenarios, Cem. Concr. Compos. vol. 118 (2021).
N. Makul, Modern sustainable cement and concrete composites: review of current status, challenges and guidelines, Sustain. Mater. Technol. vol. 25 (2020); 5. L. Lu, P. Zhao, Z. Lu, A short discussion on how to effectively use graphene oxide to reinforce cementitious composites, Constr. Build. Mater. vol. 189 (2018) 33–41.
Q. Wang, J. Wang, C.-x Lu, B.-w Liu, K. Zhang, C.-z Li, Influence of graphene oxide additions on the microstructure and mechanical strength of cement, N. Carbon Mater. vol. 30 (4) (2015) 349–356.
Towards a More Sustainable and Efficient Cement Industry
Part 1
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colorless, odorless, and non-toxic gas naturally present in the atmosphere. Under normal conditions, it should remain balanced to retain the heat necessary for human survival without becoming a greenhouse gas. However, overpopulation, industrialization, and environmental exploitation have disrupted this balance, making CO2 levels increasingly difficult to control. Consequently, these levels rise, concentrate, absorb radiation, and prevent heat from escaping, contributing to global warming.
According to statistics, cement production and the fossil fuel industry (coal, oil, and natural gas) are responsible for releasing about 90% of CO2 and probably 70% of greenhouse gases. Other industries, such as agriculture, fashion, and transportation, also contribute.
“Sustainability of our civilization depends on whether we can provide energy, food, and chemicals to the growing population without compromising the long-term health of our planet.” Doria-Serrano, 2009.
Concerning cement, the main component of concrete, reports mention that it alone accounts for between 7% and 8% of global CO2 emissions. For reference, producing one ton of clinker, the main component of cement, releases approximately ~0.86 tons of CO2, of which around 60% comes from the transformation of limestone into calcium oxide or lime at an average temperature of 1450 °C, a process also known as clinker burning. The remaining 40% is attributed to the combustion of fossil fuel (coal) necessary for the calcination of limestone and clinker formation.
“In 2021, carbon emissions from cement production reached nearly 2,900 million tons of carbon dioxide, while in 2002, 1,400 million tons were recorded.” The Global Carbon Project.
Therefore, to achieve the net-zero emissions target by 2050 required by the Paris Agreement, the cement industry has been forced to take measures to reduce its impact by using alternative fuels (biomass, tires, urban solid waste); improving energy efficiency by reducing the clinkerization temperature through fluxes and mineralizers (such as CaF2, BaO, SnO2, P2O5, Na2O, NiO, ZnO, etc.) or by renewing kilns; modifying cement chemistry with supplementary materials to reduce clinker consumption or capture CO2; and, recently, using graphene to improve the quality of cement and concrete.
“By 2050, global concrete consumption is expected to increase by 12% to 23% from 25 billion per year.”
According to the National Cement Chamber (CANACEM), most projects registered in Latin America are working on replacing fossil fuels with alternative fuels; Mexico is the only country registering higher production of blended cements to reduce clinker content.
Graphene is a nanomaterial consisting of atomic carbon sheets separated from graphite, with mechanical, electrical, thermal, and barrier properties superior to other carbon-based materials, allowing it to venture into countless applications and industries, including construction. According to estimates by Graphene Flagship, the use of graphene in construction is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 30%.
“The production of 1 kg of graphene produces 0.17 kg of CO2, compared to 0.86 kg of CO2 for Portland cement, reinforcing the nanomaterial’s environmental advantages.”
Since the isolation of graphene in 2004 and the subsequent Nobel Prize in Physics 2010 awarded to its discoverers, an international race began to study, understand, and obtain the nanomaterial in sufficient quantities for large-scale applications at an affordable cost. In the construction sector, it was not until 2018 that research and investments manifested their first results in various parts of the world, such as:
2018: Graphenemex® launched Nanocreto®, the world’s first graphene oxide concrete additive (Mexico).
2019: Graphenenano developed Smart additives, graphene additives for concrete (Spain).
2019: GrapheneCA presented its OG concrete admix product line for the concrete industry (USA).
2021: Scientists at the University of Manchester developed the Concretene concrete additive (UK).
2022: Energeia Fusion-Graphenemex® launched the Graphenergy construction line, an improved version of Nanocreto® (Mexico).
2022: Versarien presented Cementene™, the world’s first 3D-printed construction with a graphene-reinforced mix (UK).
Basquiroto de Souza and collaborators, in their article “Graphene opens pathways to a carbon-neutral cement industry” published in 2022 in Science Bulletin, summarized the opportunities that graphene has for the sustainability of construction materials:
Reduction of Portland cement thanks to significant improvements in compressive strength and elastic modulus of concrete.
Increase the use of by-products or recycled materials in concrete to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 7%, as well as a 2% reduction in energy consumption during the manufacture of graphene oxide reinforced mortar.
Reduction in construction costs due to improved strength or greater incorporation of by-products or waste materials. A cost analysis concluded that while the use of graphene oxide may slightly increase concrete costs, the economy index (compressive strength/cost per m3) of the mixes can increase by up to 40%.
Reduction in maintenance costs. By improving the quality of concrete structures, reductions in CO2 emissions are inferred through a reduction in the amount of construction materials and energy associated with maintenance.
Energy-efficient buildings: graphene’s thermal properties can also be applied to buildings to achieve energy savings by reducing the use of cooling/heating systems.
For Energeia-Graphenemex®, the leading company in Latin America in designing applications with graphene materials, it is a pride to be part of the graphene timeline for sustainable construction.
Authored by: EF/DHS
References
Ige, O.E.; Olanrewaju, O.A.; Duffy, K.J.; Collins, O.C. Environmental Impact Analysis of Portland Cement (CEM1) Using the Midpoint Method. Energies 2022, 15, 2708.
International Energy Agency, World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Technology roadmap – low-carbon transition in the cement industry. April 2018
Felipe Basquiroto de Souza, Xupei Yao, Wenchao Gao, Wenhui Duan, Graphene opens pathways to a carbon-neutral cement industry, Science Bulletin, 2022, 67, 1, 2022, 5
Papanikolaou I, Arena N, Al-Tabbaa A. Graphene nanoplatelet reinforced concrete for self-sensing structures– a lifecycle assessment perspective. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019, 240: 118202
Devi S, Khan R. Effect of graphene oxide on mechanical and durability performance of concrete. Journal of Building Engineering, 2020, 27: 101007
Doria- Serrano. Química verde: un nuevo enfoque para el cuidado del medio ambiente. Educación química. 2009. UNAM.
As of June 2024, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) recorded that around 50% of Mexican territory was in severe drought, 30% in extreme drought, and 11% in exceptional drought, significantly impacting not only the supply of drinking water—only 52.3% of the population in Mexico has this service—but also numerous economic activities such as the agricultural and livestock sectors.
However, the water crisis is not a national issue alone. According to WHO/UNICEF, over 2000 million people worldwide lack access to potable water. These organizations have defined sustainable development goals for 2030 to ensure water availability, critical for improving hygiene education; protecting and restoring ecosystems; using water resources efficiently; investing in infrastructure and sanitation facilities; and promoting new water technologies, such as irrigation systems, rainwater collection, and treatment and reuse methods.
One such technology is nanotechnology, revolutionized 20 years ago by the isolation of graphene, a multifunctional carbon-based nanomaterial in the diamond and graphite family. Numerous studies have evaluated its effects on materials used in water technologies, such as filtration membranes and flocculants. Graphene’s extraordinary physicochemical characteristics, which can be controlled and shared with other three-dimensional materials, sparked interest. Initial studies as a nanofiller in primarily polymeric matrices revealed significant mechanical, antiadhesive, antifriction, antimicrobial, and filtering improvements. These enhancements increased its lifespan, reduced organic matter buildup on surfaces, and maintained consistent water flow and filtration efficiency.
For example, researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and Tel Aviv University in Israel successfully developed a silica aerogel with graphene oxide for wastewater decontamination. Meanwhile, scientists from Palacký University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, under the 2D-CHEM project funded by the European Research Council’s Graphene Flagship, designed acid graphene synthesized from fluorographene to remove heavy metals like lead and cadmium, as well as noble metals like palladium, gallium, and indium.
Notably, the promising research results on graphene in water technologies have moved from laboratories to the market. Companies exploiting its benefits include the Australian company CLEAN TEQ WATER, specializing in water treatment with presence in Melbourne, Beijing, Tianjin, and Africa. Its subsidiary NematiQ successfully developed graphene nanofiltration membranes that are more durable and energy-efficient, recently receiving the WaterMark certification as a safe product for water filtration. The British company EVOVE, formerly known as G2O Water Technologies, utilizes hydrophilic graphene oxide coatings to enhance the performance of conventional ceramic or polymeric membranes.
Finally, collaborative efforts between Graphene Flagship scientists and European leaders in water purification, such as Icon Lifesaver, Medica SpA, and Polymem S.A, through the GRAPHIL project, aim to introduce a new filtration system using hollow fiber polymer membranes mixed with graphene for safe potable water management, primarily for domestic use.
Graphene’s advancements are gradually gaining ground beyond academic borders to address one of the world’s most pressing issues. Energeia-Graphenemex®, a pioneering Mexican company in Latin America in the production and development of graphene materials applications, collaborates with other companies and research centers to find strategies to improve water availability and quality, aiming to bring new graphene applications to the market in the short term.
Integration of Graphene Materials for Enhanced Properties and Performance
Currently, non-stick coatings refer to coatings that, to some extent, prevent the adhesion of substances, whether solid or liquid, to the surface they are applied on. The non-stick capability of these coatings is based on their very low surface tension, also known as surface energy, represented by “γ”.
For coatings to be considered non-stick, they must have a surface energy, γ, less than 26 mJ/m² and water contact angles greater than 90°. A surface where the drop forms a contact angle greater than 90° is a hydrophobic surface. This condition implies low wettability, adhesiveness, and surface energy (see Fig. 1). In contrast, if the surface is hydrophilic, a contact angle less than 90° will be observed, and the wettability, adhesiveness, and surface energy will be high.
Fig. 1 Scheme representing the contact angles of a hydrophobic and hydrophilic surface.
Industrially, there are multiple non-stick coatings based on fluoropolymers. The uses and applications of fluoropolymers in coatings cover a wide range of products. The non-stick effect and easy demolding allow their use in various industries, such as textile, chemical, automotive, and food industries, for the production of utensils, molds, tools, and equipment that need to be isolated from chemicals or food.
Most non-stick coatings have high thermal resistance; however, they do not have great abrasion resistance. The use of fluoropolymers in kitchen utensils raises concerns about the potential health risks, as harmful substances might be released during use.
In recent years, Energeia – Graphenemex®, a Mexican company leading in graphene material production, has implemented the use of these carbon-based nanomaterials. Graphene materials, such as graphene oxide and graphene, enhance properties in coatings, for example, anticorrosive, antibacterial, greater abrasion resistance, and high UV resistance.
During these property evaluations, it was observed that graphene materials can also be used as new additives for developing non-stick coatings. Incorporating graphene materials into epoxy-type coatings improved substrate adhesion; however, the finish of these coatings was smoother and shinier. When exposed to a corrosive environment, the coating showed hydrophobic behavior, keeping its surface cleaner compared to the control coating (without graphene material), which gradually lost its shine and showed wettability and contaminant deposition on the coating surface (see Fig. 2).
Fig. 2 Non-stick effects of coatings with graphene material.
Furthermore, the non-stick effect of an ecological coating with and without graphene material was evaluated. This coating is made of lime, nopal mucilage, and mineral pigments. It is well known that lime and carbonate-based materials absorb moisture easily, so the effect of graphene material in lime-based paint was studied. The results showed that the paint had an antimicrobial effect, greater UV resistance, and higher impermeability (non-stick effect).
In Fig. 3, the response of a lime-based coating with and without graphene material, when wetted by water, is shown. The coatings with graphene materials (Graphene and graphene oxide (GO)) at different concentrations showed very little deformation in the drop as its internal energy was higher than the surface energy, displaying hydrophobic behavior (water repellency). In the case of the control coating (without graphene material), it was observed to have very little non-stick capacity, absorbing water more easily due to high surface energy. The drop spread on the surface immediately when the water drop fell on the surface, showing highly hydrophilic behavior. These results showed that graphene materials modified the nature of the coating, i.e., they modified the surface energy of the coatings at the surface level.
Fig. 3 Wetting behavior of a lime-based coating, with and without graphene materials.
Currently, Energeia – Graphenemex®, a leading Mexican company in Latin America in the research and production of graphene materials for industrial application development, offers various types of graphene materials for use in developing and producing anticorrosive, antibacterial, and enhanced non-stick coatings.
References
Tong, Yao &Song, Mo. (2013). Graphene based materials and their composites as coatings.
Zhen, Z. & Zhu, H. Graphene: Fabrication, Characterizations, Properties and Applications. Graphene (Academic Press, 2018).
Sachin Sharma Ashok Kumar, Shahid Bashir, K. Ramesh, S. Ramesh, Progress in Organic Coatings, 154, (2021)
Graphene as a Sustainable Solution to the Lithium Crisis
In the last decade, the global increase in demand for lithium-ion batteries has been driven by the growing popularity of electronic devices, from portable devices such as tablets, consoles, and cell phones to electric vehicles. According to the International Monetary Fund, it is estimated that by 2050 the demand for batteries will exceed supply by 40%, posing a potential crisis for industries that depend on them if viable alternatives are not implemented.
The issues with lithium-ion batteries are not limited to supply-demand balance. Lithium is a finite resource whose extraction and disposal have negative impacts on the environment and human health. Additionally, batteries present significant safety risks such as instability, overcharging, overheating, and fires.
Graphene, a two-dimensional nanomaterial of carbon with an extremely thin, transparent, and strong sheet structure, has captured the attention of battery experts. Its unique architecture allows for high electrical conductivity and chemical stability, essential characteristics for improving the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIB), lithium-sulfur batteries (LSB), and lithium-oxygen batteries (LOB).
Benefits of Graphene in Batteries:
Increased Energy Storage Capacity: Graphene has a structure with an extensive surface area, facilitating a greater number of intercalation sites for lithium ions. This translates into a significant improvement in the energy storage capacity of batteries.
Improved Electrical Conductivity: Graphene’s π-π bonds allow efficient electron transport between the active materials of the electrodes and the current collectors. This reduces the internal resistance of the batteries and improves their power output, which is crucial for applications requiring high charge and discharge rates.
Enhanced Stability and Durability: Graphene promotes the stability of electrode materials by preventing premature degradation during charge and discharge cycles. This not only extends the lifespan of batteries but also ensures greater cyclic stability, maintaining consistent performance over time.
Future Perspectives and Alternatives: Despite the continuous growth of the lithium-ion battery market, their environmental risks and technical limitations are driving research towards more sustainable and efficient alternatives. Some of these alternatives include sodium/sulfur-based battery systems, chitin/zinc, silicon/carbon, and combinations of graphene with other advanced materials.
At Energeia-Graphenemex, we are proud to be at the forefront of these innovations, exploring how graphene and other nanotechnological materials can continue transforming the battery industry and contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
Writing: EF/ DHS
References:
A. Ali, P.K. Shen, Nonprecious metal’s graphene-supported electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction: fundamentals to applications, Carbon Energy 2 (2020) 99.
A. Ali, P.K. Shen, Recent progress in graphene-based nanostructured electrocatalysts for overall water splitting, Electrochem. Energy Rev. 3 (2020) 370;
A. Ali, P.K. Shen, Recent advances in graphene-based platinum and Palladium electrocatalysts for the methanol oxidation reaction, J. Mater. Chem. 7 (2019) 22189–22217; 4. Moreno-Brieva, Fernando, & Merino-Moreno, Carlos. (2020). Scientific and Technological Links from Samsung On Lithium Batteries and Graphene. Journal of technology management & innovation, 15(4), 81
Yu Yang, Renjie Wang, Zhaojie Shen, Quanqing Yu, Rui Xiong, Weixiang Shen, Towards a safer lithium-ion batteries: A critical review on cause, characteristics, warning and disposal strategy for thermal runaway, Advances in Applied Energy, 11, 2023, 100146
From Sensing Technologies to Environmental Solutions
Graphene and its derivatives such as graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) are two-dimensional, sheet-like carbon nanomaterials with a wide range of opportunities for numerous applications due to their thinness, transparency, conductivity, flexibility, chemical stability, impermeability, and mechanical strength. In the case of GO and rGO, in addition to their large surface area with hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions inherent to graphene, they allow the adsorption of organic aromatic molecules, ions, and polymers through π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding, and electrostatic interactions. These properties make them suitable materials for constructing sensors or biocatalytic and photocatalytic platforms. According to various reports, the surface-to-volume ratio of graphene materials enhances the surface charge of the desired molecules, while their excellent electrical conductivity, especially at room temperature, favors electron transfer to the surface of electrodes for analysis or photocatalysis.
On the other hand, graphene sheets are not perfectly flat; they exhibit undulations formed as a result of the bonding between their carbon atoms or thermal fluctuations, which can ultimately induce magnetic fields and alter their electronic properties for designing sensors, biosensors, or electronic devices in general. Thus, through more than ten years of research and exploration of their remarkable multifunctionality, the study of graphene has transcended to the development of highly sensitive devices for monitoring, for example, the presence of harmful gases, medically relevant molecules, or proteins, and even water decontamination.
Detection Systems
Metamaterials are a type of compound with the ability to produce useful electromagnetic responses for designing sensors or non-destructive detection devices. Generally, these sensors consist of an insulating material and a conductive material, sensitive to the refractive index of the analyte’s upper layer. In the presence of graphene, it has been observed that this interaction (sensor-analyte) is enhanced by changes in resonance intensity, leading to amplitude changes that further favor detection sensitivity.
In a study conducted in 2023 by the School of Electronic and Information Engineering at Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou, China, a sensor was designed comprising a polyimide (PI) film as an insulating layer, an aluminum structure as a conductive layer, and a monolayer of graphene as the detection interface. Simulation results indicated that graphene could modulate the entire electric field and produce an amplitude change that significantly increases detection limits.
In another study conducted at the Laboratory of Nanostructured Materials of the Institute of Physics at UASLP, functionalized graphene oxide with gold nanoparticles was used as a SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman spectroscopy) biodetection platform, an important technique for biological detection due to its high sensitivity, low sample requirements, relatively low cost, and real-time detection. Crystal violet was used as the standard molecule and flavin adenine dinucleotide as the experimental coenzyme for its participation in numerous redox processes of metabolic reactions and biological electron transport. The results showed that graphene oxide hybrids with gold nanoparticles substantially enhance SERS signals compared to individual nanoparticles. Additionally, the results are consistent with other research on identifying significant improvements for molecule stabilization and fluorescence reduction during measurements, which is often a major drawback of such techniques, supporting its potential as a diagnostic or monitoring tool.
Toxic Gas Removal
Advances in nanoengineering allow graphene and GO sheets to be manipulated for the detection and separation of certain gases. According to the results of a study conducted by the Department of Energy Engineering at Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea, selective diffusion can be achieved by controlling the gas flow channels and pores through different stacking methods, demonstrating that GO’s functional groups provide a unique adsorption behavior towards CO2.
CO2 Conversion
The photocatalytic properties of GO can also be harnessed for converting CO2 into hydrocarbons such as methanol for solar energy capture and CO2 reduction. In 2018, at the Advanced Technology Laboratory for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, China, silver chromate (Ag2CrO4) nanoparticles were used as a photosensitizer and GO as a co-catalyst for the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 into methanol and methane. The study concluded that this synergy between nanoparticles could enhance conversion activity up to 2.3 times under solar irradiation due to better light absorption, increased CO2 adsorption, and improved charge separation efficiency.
Water Decontamination
Water technologies have various areas of opportunity, particularly in improving filtration or membrane systems. In this regard, it has been found that using hybrid graphene nanostructures, for example, with ruthenium or magnetite, can allow the removal of microorganisms and organic matter present in water. However, research continues to advance to perfect graphene-based methodologies for the removal and reduction of metal ions such as zinc, copper, lead, cadmium, cobalt, among others.
At Energeia-Graphenemex®, we recognize and admire the advancements that research centers have achieved in various areas of knowledge, starting from basic science to applied science results. We firmly believe that in the short or medium term, these technologies will materialize into real products that are useful to society and the environment.
Redaction: EF/ DHS
References
A. Fasolino, J.H. Los, M.I. Katsnelson, Intrinsic ripples in graphene, Nat. Mater. 6 (2007) 858;
W. Bao, F. Miao, Z. Chen, H. Zhang, W. Jang, C. Dames, C.N. Lau, Controlled ripple texturing of suspended graphene and ultrathin graphite membranes, Nat. Nanotechnol. 4 (2009) 562; 3. G. Yildiz, M. Bolton-Warberg and F. Awaja. Graphene and graphene oxide for bio-sensing: General properties and the effects of graphene ripples. Acta Biomaterialia 131 (2021) 62;
Lang, T.; Xiao, M.; Cen,W. Graphene-Based Metamaterial Sensor for Pesticide Trace Detection. Biosensors 2023, 13, 560;
D. Hernández- Sánchez, E. G. Villabona Leal, I. Saucedo-Orozco, V. Bracamonte, E. Pérez, C. Bittencourt and M. Quintana, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017;
Kim, H.W.; Yoon, H.W.; Yoon, S.-M.; Yoo, B.M.; Ahn, B.K.; Cho, Y.H.; Shin, H.J.; Yang, H.; Paik, U.; Kwon, S. Selective gas transport through few-layered graphene and graphene oxide membranes. Science 2013, 342, 91;
Kim, D.; Kim, D.W.; Lim, H.-K.; Jeon, J.; Kim, H.; Jung, H.-T.; Lee, H. Intercalation of gas molecules in graphene oxide interlayer: The role of water. J. Phys. Chem. C 2014, 118, 11142;
Xu, D.; Cheng, B.; Wang, W.; Jiang, C.; Yu, J. Ag2CrO4/g-C3N4/graphene oxide ternary nanocomposite Z-scheme photocatalyst with enhanced CO2 reduction activity. Appl. Catal. B Environ. 2018, 231, 368;
Jiˇríˇcková, A.; Jankovský, O.; Sofer, Z.; Sedmidubský, D. Synthesis and Applications of Graphene Oxide. Materials 2022, 15, 920;
M. Quintana, E. Vazquez & M. Prato, “Organic Functionalization of Graphene in Dispersions”, Acc. Chem. Res., vol. 46, n.o 1, pp. 138-148, 2013. DOI: 10.1021/ar300138e;
Roberto Urcuyo1,2,3, Diego González-Flores1,3, Karla Cordero-Solano, Rev. Colomb. Quim., vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 51-85, 2021;
B. Xue, M. Qin, J. Wu et al., “Electroresponsive Supramolecular Graphene Oxide Hydrogels for Active Bacteria Adsorption and Removal”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 8, 24, 15120;
C. Wang, C. Feng, Y. Gao, X. Ma, Q. Wu & Z. Wang, “Preparation of a graphene-based magnetic nanocomposite for the removal of an organic dye from aqueous solution”, Chem. Eng. J.,173, 1, 92.
Advances in Efficiency and Renewable Energy Storage
In today’s context, environmental concerns and climate change have shifted from being a trend to a top priority. This has led to the formation of multidisciplinary teams globally, focused on finding more sustainable technological solutions for energy challenges, such as energy generation and storage, with the additional aim of minimizing emissions.
In this context, thermal energy management through passive technologies, like solar energy, has gained significant importance. Its utilization as an eco-friendly and energetically efficient alternative has seen substantial growth, from its application in domestic settings to electricity generation systems.
However, the natural intermittence of solar energy due to diurnal and nocturnal cycles poses long-term challenges. Hence, it’s imperative to consider complementary technologies like Phase Change Materials (PCMs). These materials can absorb thermal energy from the surroundings to change their state, releasing stored energy for heating or cooling applications in various sectors, including construction, electronics, and aerospace.
Among the well-known PCMs is paraffin, which undergoes a solid-liquid phase change to store latent heat by absorbing thermal energy until reaching its melting point. While paraffins offer advantages such as being safe, reliable, economical, and having acceptable stability for long crystallization-fusion cycles, they also face challenges such as low thermal conductivity and leakage in the liquid state.
Fortunately, PCMs, including paraffin, benefit from advances in nanotechnology, especially when modified with nanoparticles like Graphene. Incorporating Graphene into PCMs like paraffin significantly enhances thermal conductivity and energy efficiency, facilitating solar-to-thermal energy conversion and storage.
What makes Graphene so special?
Graphene, with its exceptional physicochemical properties, is one of the most promising nanomaterials as a co-adjuvant in addressing energy-related challenges. Unlike other carbon nanostructures like diamond, graphite, activated carbon, fullerenes, or nanotubes, Graphene exhibits superior electrical and mechanical properties, with the added advantage of easy combination with other compounds like PCMs to share characteristics and enhance performance. For example, compared to nanotubes, one of the most well-known and studied carbon nanostructures, Graphene boasts higher charge mobility (200,000 cm2 V 1 s 1 Vs. 150,000 cm2 V 1 s 1), greater electrical conductivity (6.6 MS m -1 Vs. 0.35 MS m -1), and higher transmittance (97.0% Vs. 95.7%), making it highly attractive for energy-related applications.
How does Graphene relate to PCMs for solar energy utilization?
Historically, from a sustainable perspective and as a real-world application, architecture is a clear example of solar energy utilization. Starting from ancient times with the construction of adobe walls to trap daytime heat and release it at night, to modern infrastructure using heaters or solar panels, to Trombe walls as a passive heating tool. For instance, Trombe walls comprise materials like glass, wood, steel, aluminum, concrete, and PCMs like paraffin, arranged in special configurations that collectively absorb heat to slowly conduct it into the dwelling.
Through the identification of Graphene’s multifunctional properties and the exploration of its benefits in various sectors, it was found that its integration into paraffin used for passive heating systems can significantly improve thermal conductivity or driving force by up to 164%, showcasing clear superiority over highly efficient hybrid nanoparticles like Cu-TiO2 or Al2O3-MWCNT, whose normal benefits range between 50 and 70%. This means that integrating these technologies into passive heating systems, besides improving thermal comfort throughout the year, would also yield significant energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions.
Solar cells
Another well-known potential application of nanotechnology in the energy sector is the design of the fourth generation of solar panels, which includes the use of two-dimensional nanomaterials like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), tungsten diselenide (WSe2), and again, Graphene.
Among the most representative advantages that Graphene has demonstrated over other materials are, in addition to its mechanical strength, its high charge mobility, great transmittance, lightness, flexibility, and stability, which have led to significant advances in its performance for solar panel design, increasing its efficiency from 1.5% to 15% in less than 10 years, almost comparable to the efficiency of current cells ranging from 20 to 22%. However, in pursuit of further improving these percentages, experts in the field continue to explore methodologies based on Graphene doping with other structures like silicon, molybdenum hexafluoride, molybdenum oxide, thionyl chloride, trioxionitric acid, gold chloride, boron, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, or sulfur, to reduce its resistance and better harness solar energy.
At Energeia-Graphenemex, the leading company in Latin America in the design and development of graphene-based applications, we are aware of the challenges that Graphene, like any emerging technology, faces, and we are pleased to be part of the select group of researchers and industrialists globally seeking to benefit society, the economy, and the environment with the advantages these wonderful materials can offer.
Thanks to our multidisciplinary team, we have quickly overcome the obstacles that have hindered the arrival of this material to the market in real applications, starting with its large-scale production, with controlled quality and at an affordable cost, as well as with the development of new products with graphene nanoengineering, where controlling its stability and compatibility with compounds and processes used in each application or industry has been fundamental.
Graphene as an ally of renewable energies is still in its early stages, not necessarily due to its manipulation but because of the complexity this sector represents. However, the significant advances made over the past decade should not be underestimated, as they lay the groundwork for the next generations of equipment and technologies.
Redaction: EF/DHS
References
Jafaryar M, Sheikholeslami M. Simulation of melting paraffin with graphene nanoparticles within a solar thermal energy storage system. Sci Rep. 2023, 26;13(1):8604;
R. Bharathiraja, T. Ramkumar, M. Selvakumar. Studies on the thermal characteristics of nano-enhanced paraffin wax phase change material (PCM) for thermal storage applications. J. Energy Storage, 73, Part C, 2023, 109216;
Li-Wu Fan, Xin Fang, Xiao Wang, Yi Zeng, Yu-Qi Xiao, Zi-Tao Yu, Xu Xu, Ya-Cai Hu, Ke-Fa Cen, Effects of various carbon nanofillers on the thermal conductivity and energy storage properties of paraffin-based nanocomposite phase change materials, Applied Energy, 110, 2013, 163;
Top Khac Le., et al., Advances in solar energy harvesting integrated by van der Waals graphene heterojunctions. RSC Adv., 2023, 13, 31273
We want to be close to you
We ask for your data to support you in any technical questions you may have.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
We want to be close to you
We ask for your data to support you in any technical questions you may have.
We want to be close to you
We ask for your data to support you in any technical questions you may have.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
We want to be close to you
We ask for your data to support you in any technical questions you may have.
[contact-form-7 id=”294823″ title=”HS | Aditivos de Concreto – EN”]
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
Queremos estar cerca de ti
Pedimos tus datos para apoyarte en cualquier duda técnica que tengas.
We want to be close to you
We ask for your data to support you in any technical questions you may have.
[contact-form-7 id=”d1da5ad” title=”HS | Masterbatch de Tereftalato de Polietileno con óxido de grafeno EN”]
