Sendai, Miyagi, 22 October 2024. 3DC (the Company), a Japanese manufacturer and supplier of Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS), an advanced carbon material for battery technology, is pleased to announce that it has signed a joint research agreement with Associate Professor Hiroyuki Itoi at Aichi Institute of Technology to establish a mass production process for high-quality GMS-based conductive additives.
Background
3DC's "GMS" is a next-generation carbon material used in the electrodes of energy storage and power generation devices such as lithium-ion batteries, next-generation batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells. GMS combines flexibility, porosity, conductivity, and corrosion resistance, solving the long-standing issue in lithium-ion batteries where improving one property compromises another. As a result, GMS has gained global attention.
3DC is currently focusing on bench-scale production of "conductive additive GMS," a product tailored for conductive additives. The company plans to begin large-scale production within the next few years to widely deliver GMS conductive additives to society.
A key challenge in establishing the mass production process is "scaling up the production while maintaining the quality of GMS." Achieving this requires precise structural and electrochemical evaluations throughout the scale-up process, using the results to carefully design the production process.
To facilitate this, 3DC has entered into joint research with Associate Professor Hiroyuki Itoi, who has deep expertise in carbon materials and evaluation technologies. This collaboration will enable detailed structural and electrochemical evaluations of GMS to advance the production process.
About Associate Professor Hiroyuki Itoi of Aichi Institute of Technology
Associate Professor Hiroyuki Itoi is from the Department of Applied Chemistry, Aichi Institute of Technology. He received his Ph.D. in Engineering from Tohoku University in September 2011 and held the position of Specially Appointed Assistant Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering at Tohoku University from May 2012. Since April 2013, he has been a lecturer at Aichi Institute of Technology, and in April 2015, he became an associate professor.
His research focuses on applying techniques from fields such as organic chemistry and electrochemistry to inorganic carbon materials. His research topics include synthesizing and evaluating novel carbon composite materials for energy storage and conversion, catalysts, electrode catalysts, and hydrogen storage materials.
In 2018, he received the Carbon Society of Japan Research Encouragement Award for his research on the chemical modification of carbon nanopores based on organic and polymer chemistry and improving energy storage capacity.
About the Joint Research
Under this joint research, 3DC will supply Aichi Institute of Technology with GMS conductive additives, which will undergo multi-faceted evaluations using the university's facilities, including structural analysis (*1) and electrochemical measurements (*2). Based on the evaluation results, 3DC will identify current manufacturing challenges and incorporate solutions into the process design. This iterative cycle will accelerate the realization of large-scale production of high-quality conductive additive GMS.
(*1) Analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).
(*2) Fabrication of electrodes using GMS, with evaluation of residual NMP in the electrodes and gas generation from electrolyte decomposition.
Goals of the Joint Research
For 3DC:
This collaboration will enable the early mass production of high-quality GMS conductive additives and accelerate its adoption. By doing so, 3DC will contribute to battery advancements and the realization of a carbon-neutral society.
For Academia:
GMS is a highly innovative material. The detailed analysis and evaluation of such a novel material at the university level may lead to groundbreaking discoveries that advance the field of materials science. This could energize academia and industry, fostering better research and business opportunities.
About 3DC
3DC is a Japanese startup company that develops and manufactures Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS), with a mission of "Powering Sustainable Society withCarbon Material Innovation."
GMS, our flagship product, is reputed as one of the most advanced carbon materialsfor battery technologies, invented and developed by Dr. Nishihara, Professor at Tohoku University, as well as Co-founder and CSO (Chief Science Officer) of 3DC, and we are currently working with a number of research institutions andindustry players worldwide in order to commercialize GMS.
In February 2024, we started shipments of GMS sample products to our customers. We are now preparing to launch our first mass production facility in Japan, whichis scheduled to start operations in 2026.
For more information visit https://www.3dc.co.jp/en or follow 3DC on LinkedIn.
Join Our Team
3DC is on the lookout for individuals who are eager to join us in our mission towards achieving a decarbonized society. We are actively recruiting candidates with expertise in the following areas:
- Battery Application Research
- Materials Analysis
- Technical Sales
- Business Development
For further details, please feel free to contact us via our recruiting page below:
Recruit - 3DC Inc.
Company information
Name: 3DC Inc.
HQ: Material Solutions Center, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8577, Japan
Founders: Takuma Kuroda (CEO), Hirotomo Nishihara (CSO)
Founded: February, 2022
Website: https://www.3dc.co.jp/en
Contact Infomation
For further details regarding the press release, GMS samples, or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us via the form or email address below:
Website: https://www.3dc.co.jp/en/contact/
Email: info@3dc.co.jp
