Overview
LiGra-BATTERY combines lithium with thermally expanded graphite (TEG) as a graphene-based electrolyte, instead of a conventional liquid Li-ion electrolyte. ARBOK's proprietary TEG has high conductivity, stability, and thermal resistance, accelerating ion transport for higher efficiency and slower wear. Early lab tests showed a +10 % efficiency gain (target up to +100 % with purity/process optimization), and the architecture could potentially move beyond lithium, using alternative metals with graphene as a catalyst.
Applications
Primary use cases: drop-in replacement for Li-ion in EV, electronics, and grid storage; high-energy, safer cells.
Industries and users: battery makers, EV/electronics, energy-storage developers.
Scale: cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch-cell formats.
Operating Principle
A graphene-based (TEG) electrolyte — non-liquid, with solid-state variants in testing — replaces the conventional liquid electrolyte; the graphene-like material speeds ion transport and slows degradation, improving efficiency and lifetime. Potential future chemistries reduce or replace lithium with graphene as a catalyst.
Limitations: R&D stage; performance gains preliminary; graphene purity/process optimization needed.
Key Parameters
Core: lithium + TEG; electrolyte: graphene-based (non-liquid; solid-state in testing). Efficiency gain: +10 % (lab) → up to +100 % (target).
Energy density target: >300 Wh/kg (vs ~180 Wh/kg Li-ion). Cycle life target: >3 000 (vs ~1 000 Li-ion). Safety: thermal stability, reduced overheating. Recyclable (non-toxic graphene electrolyte); reduced rare-earth use.
Architecture and Components
Lithium electrode system; TEG/graphene electrolyte (non-liquid/solid-state); cell housing (cylindrical/prismatic/pouch). Drop-in form factors for current Li-ion applications.
Advantages
Technical: faster ion transport, slower wear, higher thermal stability; solid-state variants in testing.
Economic: less rare-earth material; abundant TEG raw material; drop-in compatibility.
Environmental: recyclable, non-toxic electrolyte.
Strategic: addresses Li-ion supply and safety limits; path to lithium-reduced chemistries.
Integrations
Drop-in for existing Li-ion applications; uses ARBOK TEG/graphene materials; pairs with ARBOK storage/energy systems.
Deployment & Operation
Development: lab validation → material/process refinement → pilot production. Cell formats adaptable to existing manufacturing.
TRL
TRL 3 (confirmed by Michael). Experimental lab validation; early results driving material refinement and scale-up roadmap.
Market Potential
Battery demand is surging amid Li-ion supply constraints and safety concerns. A higher-energy, safer, drop-in cell with reduced rare-earth dependence targets EV, electronics, and grid-storage markets — contingent on validated performance.
Typical Project Economics
Cost advantage from reduced rare-earth use and abundant TEG; value from higher energy density and cycle life. Economics firm up after lab-to-pilot validation. (Indicative.)
Risk Factors
R&D maturity — gains preliminary (+10 % measured vs +100 % target); graphene purity/process scale-up; cycle-life and energy-density validation; competition with established Li-ion.
Related Technologies
GrapheneCell HX · GrapheneVoltaic Battery · BINARY BATTERY · AEROGRAPH (Graphene AeroGel)