![[Press Release] 3DC Initiates Joint Research with Professor Yabuuchi of Yokohama National University, Renowned for Leading Research on Positive Electrode Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/66a5031ff2a7150c88fc13e4/66c41f3180e69f1103c84897_3dc_top-1024x536.png)
– Aiming to Develop Lithium-Ion Batteries with Extended RUN Time per Charge –
3DC Inc. (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture; CEO: Takuma Kuroda, CSO: Hirotomo Nishihara), a company dedicated to the development, manufacture, and supply of innovative carbon materials ‘Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS)’ to accelerate battery evolution, has announced a joint research collaboration with Professor Naoaki Yabuuchi of Yokohama National University, one of Japan’s leading experts in positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries, starting in April 2024.
Through this joint research, 3DC aims to develop high-capacity lithium-ion batteries that offer longer run times per charge, contributing to the advancement of battery technology and the realization of a decarbonized society.
Background of the Joint Research
Amid the global shift towards a sustainable society, the decarbonization sector has garnered significant attention. One of the pivotal strategies for achieving decarbonization is the electrification of society, with lithium-ion batteries playing a crucial role. Due to their compact size and long lifespan compared to other secondary batteries, lithium-ion batteries are considered essential for the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) and the expansion of renewable energy solutions.
Among the various performance metrics of lithium-ion batteries, the amount of electricity they can store per charge (capacity) is particularly important. Since their commercialization in 1991, lithium-ion batteries have evolved primarily through improvements in active materials, such as positive electrode materials, which determine their capacity.
To realize a decarbonized society, batteries with even higher capacities than those currently available are needed. However, lithium-ion batteries face a dilemma: increasing capacity often leads to trade-offs in other characteristics, such as lifespan and input/output performance. This trade-off has posed a significant challenge for researchers. The next-generation carbon material ‘Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS)’, developed by 3DC, is believed to help resolve this issue.
In lithium-ion batteries, materials known as conductive additives must be dispersed in contact with active materials to enhance electrode conductivity. 3DC has developed and is selling ‘Conductive Additive GMS’, an adaptation of GMS for this purpose. To achieve further capacity improvements in lithium-ion batteries using Conductive Additive GMS, 3DC has initiated a joint research project with Professor Naoaki Yabuuchi of Yokohama National University, who has extensive research experience in high-voltage positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
Joint Research Partner: Professor Naoaki Yabuuchi of Yokohama National University
Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Division of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
He received his Ph.D. in Engineering from Osaka City University in 2006. Following his doctorate, he conducted postdoctoral research in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. In 2010, he joined the Tokyo University of Science as an Assistant Professor in the Research Institute for Science & Technology and became a Lecturer in 2012. In 2014, he was appointed as an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering at Tokyo Denki University. Since April 2018, he has held his current position at Yokohama National University. Additionally, as of April 2023, he serves as the Head of the Advanced Energy-Storage Research Laboratory at the Advanced Chemical Energy Research Center within the Institute of Advanced Sciences at Yokohama National University. In June 2023, he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Professor Yabuuchi is a leading expert in Japan on the development of high-voltage positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. His research also includes the enhancement of lithium-ion battery functionalities and the development of next-generation sodium batteries. He has extensive experience in collaborative research with major manufacturers. He is involved in Japan’s national project “Green Technologies for Excellence (GteX) Program” aimed at realizing GX, where he serves as the Group Leader in the ‘Development of Lithium Batteries with High Temperature Stability, Long Cycle Life and High Energy Density’.
For more information about his research, visit the laboratory’s website: http://www.yabuuchi-lab.ynu.ac.jp/
Joint Research Details
In our pursuit of higher capacity lithium-ion batteries, we plan to conduct joint research from the following two perspectives:
- Realizing High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries have larger capacities at higher charging voltages. However, conventional conductive additives tend to degrade at high voltages, necessitating the development of additives that can withstand such conditions.
This joint research aims to achieve high-capacity lithium-ion batteries that can be charged to higher voltages by combining Professor Yabuuchi’s advanced high-voltage cathode materials with 3DC’s Conductive Additive GMS. The Conductive Additive GMS has characteristics such as high resistance to degradation and the ability to absorb structural changes in the electrode through elastic deformation. These features are expected to contribute to the realization of high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.
- Achieving High-Density Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes
With the miniaturization of electronic devices and the need for lighter electric vehicles (EVs), there is a demand for smaller lithium-ion batteries that can store more energy. To achieve such high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries, it is necessary to pack as much cathode material into the electrode as possible. However, increasing the density of the electrode has its limitations, which may result in reduced battery performance.
This research aims to solve the above issue by combining Professor Yabuuchi’s cutting-edge cathode materials with 3DC’s Conductive Additive GMS.
Objectives of the Joint Research
By combining Professor Yabuuchi’s cutting-edge positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries with 3DC’s Conductive Additive GMS, we aim to enhance the performance of lithium-ion batteries and contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.
Comments from Takuma Kuroda (CEO, 3DC Inc.)
I am very excited to begin joint research with Professor Yabuuchi’s laboratory, which is at the forefront of global battery research. By combining Professor Yabuuchi’s expertise in battery and active material research with our advanced carbon material technology, we will further accelerate the evolution of lithium-ion batteries!
What is GMS ?
GMS is a unique ‘three-dimensional graphene’ material, possessing a sponge-like structure with a thickness of just one carbon atom. Its most remarkable feature is its physical compliance, allowing it to elastically deform like rubber and easily adapt to the intense structural changes (swelling) associated with battery charging and discharging. 3DC is the sole developer of such a ‘elastically deformable carbon material’ globally. In addition to its flexibility, GMS also possesses porosity, conductivity and corrosion resistance due to its material and structure. These multiple superior properties make GMS an innovative material that is globally recognized for potentially solving the trade-off problem in lithium-ion batteries, where improving capacity often leads to detrimental effects of other properties.
What is ‘Conductive Additive GMS’ ?
This product is a special version of GMS tailored for use as a conductive additive in lithium-ion batteries. 3DC’s ‘Conductive Additive GMS’ features a unique structure that efficiently forms high conductivity paths, enabling performance enhancement of high-voltage, high-rate cathodes and silicon-based anodes expected to achieve high energy density. This is achieved even with a lower addition rate than traditional conductive additives such as carbon black or carbon nanotubes.
About 3DC Inc.
3DC is a venture company spun out of Tohoku University dedicated to the development of a new carbon material called Graphene MesoSponge® (GMS). This innovative material is intended for use in the electrodes of essential energy storage and generation devices, such as lithium-ion batteries, next-generation batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells, which are critical for a decarbonized society.
3DC is actively collaborating with domestic and international battery manufacturers, battery material producers, capacitor manufacturers, and automotive OEMs to demonstrate the capabilities of GMS in preparation for full-scale market entry after 2026. The data collected to date, particularly for lithium-ion batteries, has demonstrated advantages over existing products, resulting in significant interest from battery manufacturers.
In January 2024, 3DC successfully raised 250 million yen in the first close of its pre-Series A funding round. Subsequently, in February 2024, we began shipping ‘Conductive Additive GMS‘, which enhances the performance of lithium-ion batteries, and are now vigorously preparing to establish a full-scale manufacturing system.
Our long-term goal is to realize a society that is kind to both the environment and people, in which GMS plays a vital role in every aspect of electrical energy storage and use.
Join Our Team!
3DC is on the lookout for individuals eager to join us in our mission towards achieving a decarbonized society. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute in the areas of “Battery Application Research,” “Materials Analysis,” “Technical Sales,” and “Business Development.”
If you’re interested, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us through the following channels:
Recruitment Form: https://www.3dc.co.jp/recruit/
Email: info@3dc.co.jp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3dc-inc
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3dcinc
<Company Info>
Name: 3DC Inc.
Head office：Material Solutions Center 203 Laboratory, Tohoku University, 2-1-1, Katahira, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, MIyagi Prefecture
Founders：Takuma Kuroda (CEO), Hirotomo Nishihara (CSO)
Established：February, 2022
URL：https://www.3dc.co.jp/en
Main Business：Development and manufacturing of carbon materials
<Contact Info>
Web: https://www.3dc.co.jp/en/contact/
E-mail：info@3dc.co.jp
If you are interested in more information about GMS, joint research with 3DC, or an R&D job at 3DC, please feel free to contact us!!
