Fabrication of graphene based nanomaterials from zenyatta graphite for energy and environmental applications

石墨烯是一种由单层石墨构成的二维薄片，具有独特的性质和巨大的应用潜力。根据Allied Market Research的数据，到2020年，全球石墨烯市场预计将达到1.491亿美元，在2014 - 2020年预测期内，复合年增长率（CAGR）预计为44%。然而，目前还没有清洁且具有成本效益的技术用于石墨烯和石墨烯衍生物的大规模生产。石墨是大量生产石墨烯和石墨烯基纳米材料的主要来源。Zenyatta Ventures Ltd.，总部位于安大略的雷霆湾，目前正在开发安大略东北部的大型、独特的与岩浆有关的奥尔巴尼石墨存款，该矿床含有约100万吨石墨碳的总资源。目前已知世界上任何地方都没有其他类似的与火成有关的石墨存款。这个拟议的NSERC-CRD/OCE-VIPII（安大略卓越中心-创新和生产力中心II）联合项目直接来自我们目前的NSERC CRD项目，该项目于2015年5月启动。我们已经成功地合成了氧化石墨烯（GO），发明了一种制备氟掺杂氧化石墨烯（F-GO）的新工艺，并合成了一种新型的三维（3D）互连的还原氧化石墨烯（IC-rGO）。这个拟议的联合项目的主要目标是双重的：（i）开发和优化生产GO，F-GO和IC-rGO的技术;以及（ii）扩大生产工艺，从我们目前的1克小型实验室规模到100克大型实验室规模，并对能源和环境应用进行高质量控制。这个联合项目与扩大这种性质的技术的标准行业实践非常一致;并且是确保这种价值创造留在加拿大的关键下一步。Zenyatta石墨项目的成功将为安大略西北部以及加拿大提供极好的就业和商业机会，因为目前北美没有石墨矿生产。

Graphene, a two-dimensional sheet comprising a single layer of graphite, possesses unique properties and strong potential for myriad applications. According to Allied Market Research, the global graphene market is expected to garner $149.1 million by 2020, and a 44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is predicted during the 2014 - 2020 forecast period. However, there is currently no clean and cost-effective technology for the mass production of graphene and graphene derivatives. Graphite is a major source for the significant production of graphene and graphene-based nanomaterials. Zenyatta Ventures Ltd., based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, is presently developing the large, unique igneous-related Albany Graphite Deposit in Northeastern Ontario, which contains a total resource of ~1 million tonnes of graphitic carbon. No other similar igneous-related graphite deposit is currently known to exist anywhere in the world. This proposed NSERC-CRD/OCE-VIPII (Ontario Centres of Excellence - Voucher for Innovation and Productivity II) joint project arises directly from our current NSERC CRD project, which was initiated in May 2015. We have successfully synthesized graphene oxide (GO), invented a new process for the fabrication of fluorine-doped graphene oxide (F-GO), and synthesized a novel three-dimensional (3D) interconnected reduced graphene oxide (IC-rGO). The primary goal of this proposed joint project is two-fold: (i) to develop and optimize technologies for the production of GO, F-GO and IC-rGO; and (ii) to scale up the production process, from our current one-gram small lab scale to a 100-gram large lab scale, with high quality control for energy and environmental applications. This joint project aligns well with the standard industry practice of scaling-up technologies of this nature; and is the critical next step to ensure that this value creation remains in Canada. The success of Zenyatta's graphite project will provide excellent job and business opportunities across Northwestern Ontario, as well as Canada, since currently there is no graphite mine production in North America.******