GRAFOID Introduces its Ion Selective GPURE Graphene Polymer Membrane for Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode Protection A Focus Graphite Related Company Introduces a Novel Freestanding Nano- porous Membrane Technology to Extend Battery Life
GRAFOID Introduces its Ion Selective GPURE Graphene Polymer
Membrane for Lithium-Ion Battery Electrode Protection
A Focus Graphite Related Company Introduces a Novel Freestanding Nano-
porous Membrane Technology to Extend Battery Life
March 14, 2017
KINGSTON, Ontario -- Grafoid Inc., a Canadian graphene R&D, investment and technology
licensing company announced today the development of its GPURE Graphene Polymer
nano-porous membrane intended for next generation Li-Ion battery applications.
Grafoid’s largest shareholder is Focus Graphite Inc. (FMS: TSX-V; OTCQX: FCSMF; FSE: FKC),
owner of the Lac Knife high-grade graphite deposit in Quebec. Focus Graphite holds two off-
take agreements with Grafoid to supply it with high -purity graphite for graphene
application commercialization with joint venture partners.
The GPURE graphene polymer membrane (GPM) technology is the seventh graphene-based
companion to the company’s expanding GPURE Platform of new, high performing, ultra-thin
materials for diverse industrial applications.
The GPURE GPM product was developed as a chemically inert, freestanding membrane
using graphene composites to test ion selectivity using both monovalent and divalent ions.
Ion selectivity is a key requirement for a semi permeable membrane in a Li-ion battery
structure.
By protecting the chemically sensitive electrode materials from unwanted chemical species
GPURE GPM diffuses only energy harvesting monovalent ions such as Li +, Na+ etc.
Conventional membranes lack such unique property.
Figure 1 (a) shows the penetration processes of different ionic compounds through the GPURE GPM membrane, and (b)
shows the GPURE GPM 6cm x 6cm membrane.
Grafoid President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Economo described Grafoid’s entry into
the battery membrane market as a potentially important technological solution for
improving battery life cycling.
“Our GPURE membrane innovations and inventions for next generation battery applications
are intended to enhance performance, extend battery life and improve safety,” Mr. Economo
said.
Goldman-Sachs Equity Research in its September 27, 2016 report, “Charging the Future”
estimated the global automotive separator market was worth approximately 600 million
US$ in 2015, totaling around 0.5 billion m2 on a surface-area basis and rising to $1.5 billion
by 2020. This number is expected to grow to 7 billion m2 by 2025, in line with the growth of
gigawatt hours in automotive batteries.
On February 16, 2017 Grafoid unveiled its initial family of GPURE Platform membrane
technologies spanning a range of scalable industrial applications requiring novel, disruptive
solutions to create new products or enhance or supplant existing membrane technologies.
GPURE membranes include:
GPURE (A) – A high performing, free-standing membrane developed for water desalination
applications
GPURE (B) – A stable, large area membrane developed for wastewater filtration suitable for
very high temperature operating applications
GPURE (C) – A large area free-standing membrane developed for water filtration pre-
treatment and may be suitable for use in gas separation applications and may be used as a
lightweight component for automotive and sports equipment applications
GPURE (D) – A large area membrane that may be used for gas separation and sensing
applications
GPURE (E) – A large area membrane intended for use in gas separation applications
GPURE (F)- May be applied as a graphene varnish for wood surfaces to protect against
moisture, UV light and high temperatures
About Grafoid Inc.
Grafoid is focused on four areas of graphene-related technology development for industrial
adoption. They are: graphene based materials for energy creation, storage and
transmission; graphene based polymers, graphene coatings and graphene based
membranes, for all industrial sectors.
Grafoid is a Canadian graphene R&D, investment and technology licensing company. The
company provides expertise as well as product and processes for transformative, industrial-
scale graphene applications in partnership with leading corporations and inst itutions
around the world.
A privately held Canadian corporation, Grafoid invests in graphene applications and
economically scalable production processes for graphene and graphene derivatives from
raw, unprocessed graphite ore. Focus Graphite Inc. holds a significant interest in Grafoid
Inc.
Grafoid's research is supported through the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
of the National Research Council of Canada, and, on February 20, 2015, Grafoid received an
$8.1 million investment from the SD Tech Fund™ of Sustainable Development Technology
Canada (SDTC) to develop a technology that will automate Mesograf™ graphene production
and end-product development. SDTC is mandated by the Government of Canada to support
clean technology companies as they move their technologies to market.
For more information about Grafoid, please visit http://www.grafoid.com
Contact:
Focus Graphite Inc.
Gary Economo
President and CEO