Collaboration for Scalable 3D Graphene Production from Coal or Petroleum Pitch

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking collaborative partners to further develop and commercialize a novel method for producing electrically conductive, porous, three-dimensional (3D) graphene material derived from coal tar pitch or petroleum pitch. This cutting-edge technique addresses the challenge of large-scale, cost-effective production of high-quality 3D graphene, a material with significant potential in advanced energy and electrochemical applications.

This process utilizes a pyrolysis methodology where coal or petroleum pitch is activated with potassium carbonate (K2CO3). A key advantage is the system's ability to recover, regenerate, and reuse the K2CO3 activating agent without degrading product quality or process efficiency, resulting in a scalable and economically viable approach. The resulting 3D graphene exhibits high electrical conductivity, increased surface area, low defect density, and a hierarchical porous structure spanning nanometer to micron scales.

Devices fabricated using this 3D graphene, such as high-mass-loading supercapacitor electrodes, show critical performance improvements—approximately 50% increases in both specific and areal capacitance, and a 48% increase in gravimetric energy density compared to commercial alternatives. The material is also suitable for a broad array of applications, including electrodes for various batteries, supercapacitors, and electrochemical sensors, as well as sorbents for purification processes.

NETL invites interested collaborators with the capacity to develop, scale, and commercialize this innovative graphene manufacturing method.