Characterization and modification of graphite to advanced value-added products

禅雅塔风险投资有限公司目前正在开发一个非常独特的石墨矿床，位于加拿大安大略省。这个NSERC CRD项目将主要集中在禅雅塔石墨的特性和开发新的衍生纳米材料，用于多个领域的实际应用。我们将使用表面表征技术对禅雅塔石墨进行理化表征，并使用各种电化学方法研究其电化学行为。我们将以禅雅塔的石墨为原料，采用化学、电化学、水热等方法合成碳纳米复合材料、活性炭、氧化石墨烯和石墨烯，并探索其在水净化、能量转换和储能方面的应用。从这个CRD项目中获得的知识不仅将帮助禅雅塔开发其独特的石墨矿床，生产和应用其超纯石墨，而且还将解决当前在建立具有理想形态、结构、功能和表面化学性质的可控碳纳米材料制造方面的挑战。目前，全球石墨市场每年约为130亿美元。金属和碳基材料的生产构成了加拿大经济中相当大的一部分，安大略省西北部的经济在很大程度上依赖于采矿业。高纯天然石墨产量呈上升趋势；预计到2016年，加拿大将为全球石墨产能贡献约5万吨/年。最后但并非最不重要的是，该项目将培养HQP在电冶金，石墨基先进碳纳米材料及其新兴环境和能源应用领域。加拿大采矿业的劳动力正在快速老龄化；因此，迫切需要在这方面受过培训的年轻HQP来取代退休人员。

Zenyatta Ventures Ltd. is currently developing a very unique graphite deposit that is located in Ontario, Canada. This NSERC CRD project will mainly focus on the characterization of Zenyatta's graphite and the development of new derivative nanomaterials for practical applications across multiple sectors. We will carry out the physicochemical characterization of Zenyatta's graphite using surface characterization techniques and investigate its electrochemical behaviors using various electrochemical methods. We will synthesize carbon nanocomposites, activated carbon, graphene oxide and graphene from Zenyatta's graphite using chemical, electrochemical, and hydrothermal strategies, and explore their applications in water purification, energy conversion and energy storage. The knowledge to be gained from this CRD project will not only assist Zenyatta in the development of its unique graphite deposit toward the production and applications of its ultrapure graphite, but also address current challenges in the establishment of the controllable fabrication of carbon nanomaterials with desired morphologies, structures, functionalities, and surface chemistries. The global market for graphite currently stands at approximately $13 billion per year. The production of metals and carbon-based materials constitutes a considerable segment of the Canadian economy, and the economy of Northwestern Ontario relies on the mining industry to a large extent. The production of high purity natural graphite is on the rise; and it is anticipated that Canada will contribute ~50,000 tons per year to the global graphite producing capacity in 2016. Last but not least, this project will train HQP in the areas of electrometallurgy, graphite based advanced carbon nanomaterials and their emerging environmental and energy applications. The workforce in Canadian mining sector is aging at a rapid pace; hence there is an urgent need to replace retiring personnel by young HQP who are trained in this area.