OCSiAl

Last updated
OCSiAl
Company typePrivate
IndustryMaterials, Nanotechnology
Founded2009
Headquarters
Luxembourg
ProductsSWCNT and SWCNT-based industrial modifiers
BrandsTUBALL, TUBALL MATRIX
Website www.tuball.com

OCSiAl is a global nanotechnology company, the world's largest graphene nanotube manufacturer, conducting its operations worldwide. The OCSiAl headquarters are located in Luxembourg, with several offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Contents

The company has over 450 employees.

Nanotube synthesis technology

OCSiAl owns the only scalable technology that can synthesize graphene nanotubes (also known as single wall carbon nanotubes – SWCNTs) in industrial volumes. [1] [2] The technology is notable for producing SWCNTs in large quantities (tonnes) to enable low enough pricing for industrial applications to become economically feasible. [3]

The company's initial synthesis facility, named Graphetron 1.0, produced the first industrial-scale batch of graphene nanotubes – 1.2 tonnes – in 2015, which at the time exceeded the entire volume of this material ever produced since its discovery in 1991. In February 2020, OCSiAl announced the launch of its second synthesis facility, named Graphetron 50, which is currently the world’s largest plant for graphene nanotube production. OCSiAl's current production capacity is 90 tonnes per year. [4]

In 2022, OCSiAl was granted approval by the Luxembourg authorities for the construction of a production plant, together with an associated R&D center, in Differdange, Luxembourg. This synthesis facility is expected to be the largest of its kind and is scheduled to begin production in 2027. [5] [6]

In 2024, OCSiAl opened its first European production facility in Serbia. The facility has a stated annual capacity for graphene nanotube synthesis of 60 tonnes, with plans for expansion up to 120 tonnes by end of 2025. [7]

History

The company was founded in Luxembourg in 2010 by Russian physicists Yuri Koropachinsky, Oleg Kirillov, Yuri Zelvensky and Mikhail Predtechensky. Rusnano Corporation became the first external investor. The first installation for the synthesis of nanotubes was put into operation in 2013 in Novosibirsk, further production was planned to be launched in Europe, including in Luxembourg. [8]

In December 2014, Frost & Sullivan recognized the OCSiAl Group with its 2014 North American Award for Technology Innovation for OCSiAl's TUBALL SWCNT products. [9] The award was given for the high purity and large-scale production capability of TUBALL products, which has significantly increased the commercialization potential of single wall carbon nanotube products. [10]

In 2015, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), a United States government program to accelerate nanotechnology commercialization, recognized OCSiAl for expanding its matching grant program (iNanoComm) for exploratory research with SWCNT. [11]

In September 2016, OCSiAl registered its core product TUBALL through the EU's Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation under the number 01-2120130006-75-0000. [12] As of November 2016, OCSiAl is the only company with the license to produce and commercialize up to 10 tonnes of nanotubes in Europe annually. [13] In 2020, OCSiAl upgraded its dossier under the EU’s REACH legislation and expanded the volume authorized for commercialization in Europe up to 100 tonnes of TUBALL nanotubes annually. [14]

In 2019, OCSiAl was added to the list of unicorn startup companies, a list of startup companies valued at $1 billion or more, according to CB Insights. [15] In 2021, Daikin Industries announced its investment in OCSiAl "to globally accelerate application development of lithium ion battery materials for EV", by underwriting a capital increase through a third-party allocation of shares. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the valuation of OCSiAl is circa $2 billion. [16]

At the end of 2022, a Luxembourg court seized Rusnano's stake in OCSiAl. This was done as an interim measure in the suit of Yukos shareholders. In 2019, Rusnano owned 17.3% of the shares, in 2021, when the valuation of OCSiAl reached $2 billion, Rusnano estimated its stake at $300 million. [17]

In October 2024, OCSiAl opened a production facility in Serbia, Europe. It comprises a TUBALL graphene nanotube synthesis unit, dispersion and concentrate production lines, a research hub, and quality control laboratories. [18]

Controversies

OCSiAl continues its operations in Russia despite international calls for businesses to exit the country following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The company's decision to maintain its presence has drawn criticism, with activists arguing that such actions support the Russian economy and undermine global sanctions. [19] In November 2024, OCSiAl inaugurated a large-scale nanotube synthesis plant in Novosibirsk, Russia, significantly increasing the country's capacity for producing single-wall carbon nanotubes. [20]

Products

The company's core product is TUBALL, [21] high-purity graphene nanotubes that can be used as a universal additive for a wide range of materials. [22] [23] Graphene nanotube is an extremely thin rolled-up sheet of graphene. [24] The key advantage of graphene nanotubes centers around the very low loading, starting at 0.01%, that is sufficient for achieving uniform and permanent conductivity while also reinforcing mechanical properties. [25] The very low loading made possible by SWCNT provide the ability to maintain the original color and minimally impact the secondary properties of most materials. [25]

OCSiAl has also developed nanotube-based concentrates that simplify graphene nanotubes use in various materials. [26] In 2015, the company opened a research facility focused on nanotubes applications for batteries, elastomers, paints and coatings, thermoplastic, and thermoset materials. [27]

OCSiAl nanotube applications

Elastomers [28]

TUBALL-based masterbatches use rubber polymers, fillers and oil plasticizers as nanotube carriers, allowing performance improvements with minimal changes to the composition of a rubber compound. [29] In October 2016, LANXESS and OCSiAl announced new nanotubes products targeting reinforced and conductive latex rubbers. [30]

In 2022, OCSiAl announced a new product created as a result of co-development of a nanotube solution together with Daikin Industries to increase the durability and resistance to extreme conditions of fluoropolymer components. [31]

Energy storage [32]

Applied in lithium-ion battery anodes, TUBALL graphene nanotubes allow manufacturers to use fast-charging, energy-dense silicon, which has over nine times the energy density of traditionally-used graphite, in the mass production of lithium-ion battery cells. Previously, the use of silicon was limited by the problem of its expansion during charging and discharging, which led to battery degradation. OCSiAl’s nanotubes create long, flexible, conductive, strong bridges to keep silicon anode particles well connected to each other even during severe volume expansion and cracking. [33] This leads to long-lasting, faster-charging high-performance batteries for electric vehicles. [34]

In 2021, Daikin Industries became a shareholder of OCSiAl, and announced its intention to make progress on improving lithium-ion batteries, an extremely important element in electromobility. [35]

TUBALL nanotubes bring performance improvements to Li-ion and lead–acid batteries, and to supercapacitors and fuel cells. [36] In these applications SWCNT has the potential to replace carbon black and other carbon-based additives, with a study by Aleees demonstrating 10% higher volumetric energy density and decreasing cathode thickness by 18% in 10 Ah pouch cells. [37] In another study by Aleees, SWCNT-coated foils showed an increase in energy delivered to cells by 0-252%, depending on the discharge rate. In trials of lead-acid batteries 0.001% of SWCNT in the electrode paste increased cycle life and rate capability five-fold. [38]

Paints and coatings [39]

TUBALL nanotubes provide conductivity to colored and transparent coatings with minimal impact on color or transparency, while maintaining or increasing mechanical properties. [40] Conductivity may be employed for ESD-control properties or electrostatic painting methods. [41]

In 2021, a leading Canadian producer in its field, Erie Powder Coatings has developed a variety of powder coatings for EMI and RFI applications using TUBALL graphene nanotubes from OCSiAl. [42]

The same year, OCSiAl, BÜFA Composite Systems, and TIGER Coatings co-developed gelcoats enhanced with graphene nanotubes that impart conductivity to the gelcoat and make it receptive to powder coating. [43]

Resins and composites [39]

In November 2016, OCSiAl announced an agreement with BÜFA Composite Systems in Europe to provide TUBALL nanotubes and TUBALL MATRIX nanotube concentrates for BÜFA-developed resin formulations. [44] In 2017 BÜFA hit the market with its line of conductive gelcoats with colored, smooth and glossy surfaces. There are some particular applications where nanotube-based gelcoats can almost completely replace standard gelcoats. Pipes and tanks for chemicals, ventilation systems, printing rollers, control boxes for electronics, floor coatings at industrial production plants, tooling gelcoats and resins for composites, to name just a few. [45] The companies noted that using graphene nanotubes in composites provides a conductive and reinforcing network at low loadings, enabling conductive parts to retain color and improve mechanical strength.

Thermoplastics

At the start of 2022, OCSiAl launched a new TUBALL MATRIX 822 graphene nanotube concentrate specifically designed for PA, filled PPS, ABS, TPU, and PC compounds for injection moulding. The new nanotube product enables in-line e-painting of plastic exterior parts together with metal components using electrophoresis, where previously, separate production lines were required. [46]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbon nanotube</span> Allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure

A carbon nanotube (CNT) is a tube made of carbon with a diameter in the nanometre range (nanoscale). They are one of the allotropes of carbon. Two broad classes of carbon nanotubes are recognized:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrode</span> Electrical conductor used to make contact with nonmetallic parts of a circuit

An electrode is an electrical conductor used to make contact with a nonmetallic part of a circuit. Electrodes are essential parts of batteries that can consist of a variety of materials (chemicals) depending on the type of battery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbon black</span> Chemical compound

Carbon black is a material produced by the incomplete combustion of coal tar, vegetable matter, or petroleum products, including fuel oil, fluid catalytic cracking tar, and ethylene cracking in a limited supply of air. Carbon black is a form of paracrystalline carbon that has a high surface-area-to-volume ratio, albeit lower than that of activated carbon. It is dissimilar to soot in its much higher surface-area-to-volume ratio and significantly lower polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content.

Gelcoat or gel coat is a material used to provide a high-quality finish on the visible surface of a fibre-reinforced composite. The most common gelcoats are thermosetting polymers based on epoxy or unsaturated polyester resin chemistry. Gelcoats are modified resins which are applied to moulds in the liquid state. They are cured to form crosslinked polymers and are subsequently backed with thermoset polymer matrix composites which are often mixtures of polyester resin and fiberglass, or epoxy resin which is most commonly used with carbon fibre for higher specific strength.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potential applications of carbon nanotubes</span>

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are cylinders of one or more layers of graphene (lattice). Diameters of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are typically 0.8 to 2 nm and 5 to 20 nm, respectively, although MWNT diameters can exceed 100 nm. CNT lengths range from less than 100 nm to 0.5 m.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanobatteries</span> Type of battery

Nanobatteries are fabricated batteries employing technology at the nanoscale, particles that measure less than 100 nanometers or 10−7 meters. These batteries may be nano in size or may use nanotechnology in a macro scale battery. Nanoscale batteries can be combined to function as a macrobattery such as within a nanopore battery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lithium iron phosphate</span> Chemical compound

Lithium iron phosphate or lithium ferro-phosphate (LFP) is an inorganic compound with the formula LiFePO
4. It is a gray, red-grey, brown or black solid that is insoluble in water. The material has attracted attention as a component of lithium iron phosphate batteries, a type of Li-ion battery. This battery chemistry is targeted for use in power tools, electric vehicles, solar energy installations and more recently large grid-scale energy storage.

Organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) are fabricated from thin films of organic semiconductors, such as polymers and small-molecule compounds, and are typically on the order of 100 nm thick. Because polymer based OPVs can be made using a coating process such as spin coating or inkjet printing, they are an attractive option for inexpensively covering large areas as well as flexible plastic surfaces. A promising low cost alternative to conventional solar cells made of crystalline silicon, there is a large amount of research being dedicated throughout industry and academia towards developing OPVs and increasing their power conversion efficiency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lithium-ion capacitor</span> Hybrid type of capacitor

A lithium-ion capacitor is a hybrid type of capacitor classified as a type of supercapacitor. It is called a hybrid because the anode is the same as those used in lithium-ion batteries and the cathode is the same as those used in supercapacitors. Activated carbon is typically used as the cathode. The anode of the LIC consists of carbon material which is often pre-doped with lithium ions. This pre-doping process lowers the potential of the anode and allows a relatively high output voltage compared to other supercapacitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lithium–sulfur battery</span> Type of rechargeable battery

The lithium–sulfur battery is a type of rechargeable battery. It is notable for its high specific energy. The low atomic weight of lithium and moderate atomic weight of sulfur means that Li–S batteries are relatively light. They were used on the longest and highest-altitude unmanned solar-powered aeroplane flight by Zephyr 6 in August 2008.

Nanoarchitectures for lithium-ion batteries are attempts to employ nanotechnology to improve the design of lithium-ion batteries. Research in lithium-ion batteries focuses on improving energy density, power density, safety, durability and cost.

NanoIntegris is a nanotechnology company based in Boisbriand, Quebec specializing in the production of enriched, single-walled carbon nanotubes. In 2012, NanoIntegris was acquired by Raymor Industries, a large-scale producer of single-wall carbon nanotubes using the plasma torch process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Supercapacitor</span> High-capacity electrochemical capacitor

A supercapacitor (SC), also called an ultracapacitor, is a high-capacity capacitor, with a capacitance value much higher than solid-state capacitors but with lower voltage limits. It bridges the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries. It typically stores 10 to 100 times more energy per unit volume or mass than electrolytic capacitors, can accept and deliver charge much faster than batteries, and tolerates many more charge and discharge cycles than rechargeable batteries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graphene foam</span>

Graphene foam is a solid, open-cell foam made of single-layer sheets of graphene. It is a candidate substrate for the electrode of lithium-ion batteries.

Research in lithium-ion batteries has produced many proposed refinements of lithium-ion batteries. Areas of research interest have focused on improving energy density, safety, rate capability, cycle durability, flexibility, and reducing cost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flexible battery</span> Type of battery

Flexible batteries are batteries, both primary and secondary, that are designed to be conformal and flexible, unlike traditional rigid ones. They can maintain their characteristic shape even against continual bending or twisting. The increasing interest in portable and flexible electronics has led to the development of flexible batteries which can be implemented in products such as smart cards, wearable electronics, novelty packaging, flexible displays and transdermal drug delivery patches. The advantages of flexible batteries are their conformability, light weight, and portability, which makes them easy to be implemented in products such as flexible and wearable electronics. Hence efforts are underway to make different flexible power sources including primary and rechargeable batteries with high energy density and good flexibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chemiresistor</span> Material with changing electrical resistance according to its surroundings

A chemiresistor is a material that changes its electrical resistance in response to changes in the nearby chemical environment. Chemiresistors are a class of chemical sensors that rely on the direct chemical interaction between the sensing material and the analyte. The sensing material and the analyte can interact by covalent bonding, hydrogen bonding, or molecular recognition. Several different materials have chemiresistor properties: semiconducting metal oxides, some conductive polymers, and nanomaterials like graphene, carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles. Typically these materials are used as partially selective sensors in devices like electronic tongues or electronic noses.

Lithium–silicon batteries are lithium-ion batteries that employ a silicon-based anode, and lithium ions as the charge carriers. Silicon based materials, generally, have a much larger specific capacity, for example, 3600 mAh/g for pristine silicon. The standard anode material graphite is limited to a maximum theoretical capacity of 372 mAh/g for the fully lithiated state LiC6.

In materials science, vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays (VANTAs) are a unique microstructure consisting of carbon nanotubes oriented with their longitudinal axis perpendicular to a substrate surface. These VANTAs effectively preserve and often accentuate the unique anisotropic properties of individual carbon nanotubes and possess a morphology that may be precisely controlled. VANTAs are consequently widely useful in a range of current and potential device applications.

Conductive agents are used to ensure electrodes have good charge and discharge performance. Usually, a certain amount of conductive material is added during the production of the pole piece, and the micro current is collected between the active material and the current collector to reduce the micro current. The contact resistance of the electrode accelerates the rate of movement of electrons, and at the same time, can effectively increase the migration rate of lithium ions in the electrode material, thereby improving the charge and discharge efficiency of the electrode. The conductive agent carbon black is used for improving the conductivity of the electrodes and decreasing the resistance of interaction.

References

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  24. ↑ Zhang, Mei; Li, Jian (2009-06-01). "Carbon nanotube in different shapes". Materials Today. 12 (6): 12–18. doi: 10.1016/S1369-7021(09)70176-2 . ISSN   1369-7021.
  25. 1 2 "A huge future for tiny tubes". Archived from the original on 30 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
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  39. 1 2 "Conductive thermoset resin: ESD agent for reinforcement, color". tuball.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  40. ↑ "OCSiAl Moves Beyond Regular Conductivity in Coatings with Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes". Coatingsworld.com. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  41. ↑ "Single Wall Carbon Nanotubes Looks Promising for Global Coating Industry". Coatingsworld.com. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  42. ↑ "Graphene Nanotubes Provide Shortcut to Add Conductivity to Powder Coatings". Coatings World. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  43. ↑ "Graphene nanotube-enhanced gelcoats enable powder coating". www.compositesworld.com. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
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  45. ↑ "OCSiAl, BÜFA Develop TUBALL Nanotubes". Coatings World. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  46. ↑ "OCSiAl launches graphene nanotube concentrate for high-quality thermoplastic auto parts". www.compositesworld.com. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
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