Graphene boosts lithium-ion batteries

The energy transition also requires more climate-friendly mobility. High-performance batteries—based, for example, on lithium ions—play a decisive role here. The Chinese company Super C, in which Evonik Venture Capital has held an investment since the end of 2022, is a battery specialist and a technological leader in the area of graphene materials. The company uses a process developed in-house to manufacture few-layer graphene (FLG)—a modified form of carbon with the carbon atoms arranged in sheets a few layers thick—which is used in making pastes for the electrodes of lithium-ion batteries. The addition of graphene increases the batteries’ power, charging speed, and lifetime. Graphene also makes lithium-ion batteries less sensitive to high temperatures and so reduces the danger of fires. The technology is thus creating good conditions for boosting the performance of electric vehicles and so accelerating the energy transition. By acquiring a stake in Super C, Evonik is strengthening its growth strategy for battery solutions.