Carbon nanomaterials have attracted significant academic and industrial interest as promising candidates for the development of batteries with enhanced capacity and charging capabilities. This study presents the design of graphene materials with capacity beyond 1,000 mAh/g. The graphene materials were chemically modified for enhanced capacity and the structure was engineered for fast ion transport. The materials were optimized for the fabrication of anodes for lithium ion batteries. The graphene anodes were assembled in full cells with Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) cathodes in both coin and pouch cell configurations. The performance of the graphene batteries was verified using charge-discharge tests at different current density ranging from C/5 to 10C. The developed graphene batteries demonstrated energy density of 400 Wh/kg at 1C and exceeded 250 Wh/kg at 10C. The power density ranges from 250 to 2,500 W/kg. The batteries showed good cycling stability and retained their energy density for 500 cycles at 1C. The batteries have reduced footprint because of the increased graphene anode density, which exceed two times that of graphite. The competitive advantages of the developed technology are high gravimetric and volumetric energy densities (light, small footprint), high power density, safe operation, fast charging, and long cycle life. The processes are scalable and can be tailored for conformable batteries.

Acknowledgement: Carbon Solutions Inc, acknowledges support under the SBIR programs of Army and Air Force.