FMS Focus Graphite Inc

Focus Graphite Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) on behalf of
Grafoid Inc. ("Grafoid") is pleased to announce the signing of a two-year R&D
agreement between Grafoid Inc. and the University of Waterloo to investigate and
develop a graphene-based composite for electrochemical energy storage for the
automotive and/or portable electronics sectors.


Gary Economo, President and CEO of Focus Graphite Inc. and Grafoid Inc., said
the objective of the agreement is to research and develop patentable
applications using Grafoid's unique investment which derives graphene from raw,
graphite ore to target specialty high value graphene derivatives ranging from
sulfur graphene to nanoporous graphene foam. 


Some of the new graphene materials will contribute positively as a powerful next
generation composite for fuel cell/electrochemical supercapacitor applications,
he said.


Those applications include but are not limited to: electrodes, nanocatalyst
support, electrolyte membranes and bipolar plates, transparent electrodes and
other potential applications which create high-efficiency solutions in
electrochemical energy systems and portable electronics.


"Today's announcement marks Grafoid's fifth publicly declared graphene
development project with a major academic or corporate institution, and the
third related directly to a next generation green technology or renewable energy
development project," Mr. Economo said.


It follows R&D partnering projects announced with Rutgers University's AMIPP,
CVD Equipment Corporation, with Hydro-Quebec's research institute, IREQ, and
with British Columbia-based CapTherm Systems, an advanced thermal management
technologies developer and producer.


Mr. Economo said Grafoid's investment in highly conductive graphene, combined
with the University's advanced catalyst technologies could advance the science
"by opening the door to a realistic, cost-competitive option to other energy
solutions." 


"Given our growth agenda for 2013, we expect to be in a position to announce a
number of additional application development projects throughout the course of
2013," Mr. Economo added.


Dr. Aiping Yu, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering at the
University of Waterloo will be the lead investigator of the project. Dr. Gordon
Chiu, Research Scientist, Department of Chemical Engineering at the University
of Waterloo will be working on the project.


Dr. Chiu said that research and discovery on graphene sulfur and nanoporous
graphene is well documented and is a cornerstone for a wide range of
applications 


"The technology for tailoring graphene for energy storage systems must be
developed. This will lead to unique intellectual property assets.


"Our group's approach for targeting graphene derivatives that powerfully impact
next generation energy storage systems adds significant value to commercial
applications while providing invaluable knowledge and insight about the
engineering of graphene and certain graphene metamaterials," Dr. Chiu said.


Dr. Yu said that graphene without proper porosity and polarity remain "a
constant roadblock for entry into next generation energy storage applications. 


"My group will focus on solving the specific tailoring and design of graphene to
enable entry into these energy storage areas" she said. "


"Grafoid's decision to invest in reducing or removing such a roadblock is a
brilliant approach of enhancing graphene for impacting fuel cells,
electrochemical supercapacitors and/or other portable energy storage systems,"
Dr. Yu added.


Background

Alternative Energy & Graphene:

The quest for alternative energy sources is one of the most important and
exciting challenges facing science and technology in the 21st century.
Environmentally-friendly, efficient and sustainable energy generation and usage
have become large efforts for advancing human societal needs. Graphene is a pure
form of carbon with powerful characteristics which can bring about success in
portable, stationary and transportation applications in high energy demanding
areas in which electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices such as
batteries, fuel cells and electrochemical supercapacitors are the necessary
devices. 


Electrochemical Supercapacitors:

Supercapacitors, a zero-emission energy storage system, have a number of
high-impact characteristics, such as fast charging, long charge-discharge cycles
and broad operating temperature ranges, currently used or heavily researched in
hybrid or electrical vehicles, electronics, aircrafts, and smart grids for
energy storage. The US Department of Energy has assigned the same importance to
supercapacitors and batteries. There is much research looking at combining
electrochemical supercapacitors with battery systems or fuel cells. 


Fuel Cells:

A fuel cell is a zero-emission source of power, and the only byproduct of a fuel
cell is water. Some fuel cells use natural gas or hydrocarbons as fuel, but even
those produce far less emissions than conventional sources. As a result, fuel
cells eliminate or at least vastly reduce the pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions caused by burning fossil fuels, and since they are also quiet in
operation, they also reduce noise pollution. Fuel cells are more efficient than
combustion engines as they generate electricity electrochemically. Since they
can produce electricity onsite, the waste heat produced can also be used for
heating purposes. Small fuel cells are already replacing batteries in portable
products.


Toyota is planning to launch fuel cell cars in 2015, and has licensed its fuel
cell vehicle technology to Germany's BMW AG. BMW will use the technology to
build a prototype vehicle by 2015, with plans for a market release around 2020.


By 2020, market penetration could rise as high as 1.2 million fuel cell
vehicles, which would represent 7.6% of the total U.S. automotive market. Other
fuel cell end users are fork lift and mining industries which continuously add
profits to this growing industry.


Proton or polymer exchange membranes (PEM) have become the dominant fuel cell
technology in the automotive market.


The U.S. Department of Energy has set fuel cell performance standards for 2015.
As of today, no technologies under development have been able to meet the DOE's
targets for performance and cost.


About Focus Graphite Inc. 

Focus Graphite Inc. is an emerging mid-tier junior mining development company, a
technology solutions supplier and a business innovator. Focus is the owner of
the Lac Knife graphite deposit located in the Cote-Nord region of northeastern
Quebec. Focus' goal is to assume an industry leadership position by becoming a
low-cost producer of technology-grade graphite. As a technology-oriented
enterprise with a view to building long-term, sustainable shareholder value,
Focus Graphite is also investing in the development of graphene applications and
patents through Grafoid Inc.


About Grafoid Inc.

Grafoid, Inc. is a privately held Canadian corporation investing in graphene
applications and economically scalable production processes for pristine bilayer
and trilayer graphene and its graphene derivatives from raw, unprocessed,
graphite ore.


Focus Graphite, Inc. (TSX VENTURE:FMS)(OTCQX:FCSMF)(FRANKFURT:FKC) holds a
principal interest in Grafoid on behalf of its shareholders. 


About the University of Waterloo  

In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of
Canada's technology hub, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive
universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and
graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary
co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and
encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the
next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada
and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions
relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about
Waterloo, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Gary Economo
President and CEO
Focus Graphite Inc.
613-691-1091 ext. 101
geconomo@focusgraphite.com
www.focusgraphite.com

Focus Graphite (TSXV:FMS)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Abr 2024 a May 2024

Focus Graphite (TSXV:FMS)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De May 2023 a May 2024