First Graphene receives $2m grant

First Graphene’s (ASX: FGR) collaborative project with Halocell Energy and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has received a Cooperative Research Centres Project (CRC-P) grant worth $2.02 million.

The grant was awarded under round 14 of the Australian Government’s CRC-P collaborative research funding stream and will support the project over three years.

The project aims to commercialise ultra-low-cost, flexible perovskite solar cell fabrication using Halocell’s roll-to-roll (R2R) production process at its Wagga Wagga plant.

Halocell Energy chief executive Paul Moonie commented on the partnership.

“Working with QUT and First Graphene for this project is an exemplar of our real-world approach,” he said.

“QUT as the university for the real world and First Graphene as the reliable producer of graphene-based materials with high end performance characteristics.”

First Graphene will provide research and development resources including labour, equipment, laboratory space, formulation and testing expertise to produce optimum graphene systems.

The Queensland University will provide expertise in material development, facilities for advanced material characterisation and testing, and assistance in developing R2R process for perovskite cells and module production.

First Graphene managing director and chief executive Michael Bell said the partnership will help develop new materials and processing technology.

“Graphene’s unique properties as a carbon-based replacement in conductive environments means it is increasingly considered for use in energy storage and transfer applications,” he said.

“Our collaboration with Halocell Energy and QUT will help develop new materials and processing technology for high performance perovskite solar cells, opening the door for high-tech commercial materials and manufacturing of cell components in Australia.

“Validation of these graphene-based materials will help build a strong business case for full-scale commercial production of both perovskite cells and the materials needed to make them in large volumes.”