North Dakota Patent of the Month – October 2024
The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has unlocked a game-changing method to produce graphene, leveraging an unexpected and abundant resource: coal. This breakthrough simplifies the production process of graphene films, making this high-demand material more accessible and cost-effective while creating a sustainable use for coal in advanced technologies.
Graphene, known for its remarkable strength, conductivity, and versatility, has traditionally been expensive to manufacture due to complex processes and costly raw materials. EERC’s innovation transforms coal into a viable carbon source for graphene production through a controlled chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The method involves entraining fine coal particles in a carrier gas mixture and depositing them in a vacuum-sealed chamber onto a metal substrate, forming high-quality graphene films.
This approach holds several distinct advantages. By utilizing coal—a widely available and low-cost material—the method significantly reduces the expense of graphene production. The scalable process accommodates various types of coal, including lignite and bituminous varieties, making it adaptable to local resources. Additionally, the precision of the CVD environment, with temperatures up to 1200°C and oxygen levels below 0.01%, ensures the consistent quality of the resulting graphene.
Beyond affordability, this method aligns with sustainability goals. Repurposing coal for graphene minimizes waste while opening opportunities for cleaner industrial applications. The graphene films produced are poised to enhance fields ranging from electronics and energy storage to composite materials and environmental sensors.
EERC’s groundbreaking approach redefines how we think about both graphene and coal. By making graphene more accessible and utilizing an abundant resource innovatively, this invention paves the way for technological advances that are both economically and environmentally responsible. With scalable production capabilities, the future of affordable, high-performance graphene is now within reach.
Are you developing new technology for an existing application? Did you know your development work could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? Even if your development isn’t successful your work may still qualify for R&D credits (i.e. you don’t need to have a patent to qualify). To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.
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The Research & Experimentation Tax Credit (or R&D Tax Credit), is a general business tax credit under Internal Revenue Code section 41 for companies that incur research and development (R&D) costs in the United States. The credits are a tax incentive for performing qualified research in the United States, resulting in a credit to a tax return. For the first three years of R&D claims, 6% of the total qualified research expenses (QRE) form the gross credit. In the 4th year of claims and beyond, a base amount is calculated, and an adjusted expense line is multiplied times 14%. Click here to learn more.
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