Graphene Manufacturing Group

Overview

Countries and companies worldwide are charging headfirst towards carbon neutrality, but supply issues with common battery metals are already becoming a significant hindrance. Enter graphene — a ‘carbon wonder product’ that may be the solution to storing the clean energy of the future. Graphene has several attributes that earned it its super-material status: a high melting point, hydrophobic, rapid heat diffusivity, lubrication and high tensile strength.

Advancements in nanoscience have helped further explore the applications and extraction of the super-material. However, much of the world’s graphene is mined using a traditional approach that calls for targeting ore with natural deposits, crushing the ore, refining the ore, and processing it to obtain graphene. This process is quite costly and leads to a higher graphene price tag. Fortunately, this creates an opportunity for companies that explore new methods of obtaining and processing the super-material.

Graphene Manufacturing Group (TSXV:GMG) is an Australia-based company pioneering a new, sustainable solution for graphene extraction that has led to the development of several disruptive products. The company’s flagship product is a next-generation aluminum-ion battery that completely sidesteps the need for traditional battery metals, such as lithium and copper. GMG has also developed additional applications for graphene, including HVAC coating and automotive fluids.

The company focuses on developing intellectual property and establishing strategic partnerships to supply the necessary raw materials. Additionally, the company forged a collaborative agreement with Bosch to build a pilot plant for battery production. Another partnership opens up research opportunities, as GMG recently became a member of the Thermal and Fluid Sciences Affiliates Program at Stanford University, which serves as a two-way conduit that facilitates research and engineering.

GMG’s single-step extraction process uses natural gas and electric plasma to break down the base material into hydrogen and graphene powder. The extraction process and resulting graphene powder, known as Graphene G™ Powder, are proprietary. This has given GMG a cost-effective alternative to accessing pure graphene powder that eliminates the risk of contaminants that would otherwise lower its grade.

Graphene G™ Powder has allowed the company to develop intellectual property targeting the clean energy, HVAC and automotive markets. The company’s aluminum-ion battery is made without cobalt, copper or lithium. The battery also charges up to 70 times faster and offers up to three times more battery life than lithium-ion batteries.

In the energy storage space, GMG is collaborating with the University of Queensland, through funding from the Australian government, to develop and commercialize its graphene aluminum-ion (G+Al) batteries. Already, GMG has reported significantly improved performance of its G+Al batteries, increasing its calculated energy density by 93 percent from 150-160 Wh/kg to 290-310 Wh/kg. Power density has also increased to around 9,350 W/kg, a 33 percent increase since the last performance update the company announced in June 2021.

Following the commissioning of its pouch cell manufacturing equipment in June 2022, GMG has also begun producing its first G+Al batteries in pouch cell format. The manufacturing equipment is now part of GMG’s battery development centre, the company’s pilot production and testing plant.

Through an acquisition deal with OzKem Pty Ltd, GMG now owns the intellectual property and brand rights for the THERMAL-XR® coating products, which uses GMG graphene in combination with OzKem's base HVAC coating. Thermal-XR® is a cost-saving HVAC coating that offers improved conductivity of corroded heat-exchange surfaces.

Lastly, G™ Lubricant is a concentrated graphene and lubricating oil product, designed for automotive use that provides energy-savings and emissions-savings, and prevents wear.

GMG is led by an experienced team of managers and scientists. Craig Nicol, CEO, has over 20 years of experience delivering large-scale innovations throughout Australia and Asia and managing sales teams for Shell International. Chris Ohrich, CFO, brings 20 years of commercial, finance and corporate transaction experience to the company. Jeff Morris, CTO, has over 25 years of experience in project management and engineering throughout natural resources and renewable energy industries. Dr. Ashok Kumar Nanjundan has 20 years of academic and commercial experience in chemical and material engineering. Other directors and advisors bring diverse backgrounds to create a well-rounded management team.

Company Highlights

• Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) is an Australia-based company pioneering graphene extraction methods and using the resulting pure graphene powder to develop industry-disrupting products.
• The company has a proprietary single-step extraction process that creates pure graphene without the risk of contaminants that decrease its grade and usage potential.
• GMG’s flagship product is its aluminum-ion battery. It does not use lithium or other battery metals and provides distinct advantages over lithium-ion batteries, such as faster charge times and extended battery life.
• The company’s other products improve existing products in the HVAC and automotive industries, offering cost savings and superior quality to the current solutions.
• GMG has strategic partnerships with manufacturers, raw material suppliers and research facilities to support its endeavors.
• GMG acquired the manufacturing intellectual property and brand rights of OzKem's THERMAL-XR® coating products.
• GMG has commissioned G+AI pouch cell equipment to manufacture the first pouch cell format batteries.