The graphene process was developed at PNNL in cooperation with Princeton researcher Ilhan Aksay under a cooperative research and development agreement with Vorbeck. PNNL said it has demonstrated that ultra-thin sheets of grahene can be fabricated on lithium-ion battery electrodes to yeild vastly shorter recharge times.

Vorbeck is developing a commercial process that duplicates PNNL's success in the lab; it has branded its graphene electrode material "Vor-x". Vorbeck separately developed "Vor-ink"--a graphene-based conductive ink licensed from Princeton University that allows electronic circuits to be printed.

Using the new Vor-x material, researchers also hope to increase the storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries without slowing their recharge time--a traditional trade-off with conventional lithium-ion battery technology.

Funding for the battery research was provided by DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Technology Commercialization Fund.