Energetica India Magazine nº88 March-April 2020

they become practicable for usage in electric cars and other devices, and get recharged within a matter of seconds! As a matter of fact, the line of difference between batteries and su- percapacitors is gradually blurring, and a hybrid system, once developed in a market-ready manner, could present the best of both worlds, plus emerge as the future answer to the energy demands. Another important aspect that needs to be highlighted at this point in time when energy deficit and energy conservation has become such a big issue is that the world now needs to shift fo- cus to energy generation methodologies instead of only trying to improve energy storage mechanisms. For instance, we at Log 9 Materials are recently developing aluminum-air fuel cells which are actually a primary energy generation technology; we are using our competency vis-à-vis ‘graphene’ to make these cells economical and sustainable for domestic and global mar- kets. The system is based on Aluminum metal as an anode, oxygen (in the air) as the cathode, and water as electrolyte, and it produces clean, zero-emission energy on the basis of an electrochemical reaction. Finally, it is prudent to mention that graphene technology has also contributed substantially towards the betterment of renew- able energy initiatives. For example, it has been used in the recent past to develop quality anti-reflection coatings for solar cells, and research is ongoing to find whether it can success - fully replace platinum in solar cell electrodes without the loss of energy efficiency. 45 energetica INDIA- March-April_2020 The Road Ahead The dynamics of energy generation and storage across the globe are constantly changing. Generally speaking, the mod- ern-day society is undergoing a transition from fossil-fuel based economy to embracing clean energy alternatives. India has also fixed ambitious goals for its clean energy sector, as our country aims to meet up to 40% of its total energy needs via renewable sources (such as solar, wind, and hydro-pow- er) by the end of 2030. Clearly, the focus is on a sustainable future, and this is exactly where “graphene” can comfortably and successfully step in. While graphene-based products for the energy sector are mostly environment-friendly and easily recyclable, they also provide for a safe, reliable, as well as more efficient and robust alternative as compared to conventional technologies (which can be hazardous to handle at times). With its superlative properties garnering multi-disciplinary attraction, the number of graphene product patents is skyrocketing, and the market for graphene batteries alone is being projected to cross $115 million by 2022. While the possibilities with graphene are endless, we need to churn out industry-specific advantages by creating affordable, real-life products and technologies to reach the doorsteps of the common man and benefit them. The industry, academia, and governments need to work hand-in-hand to realize the promise of graphene to the fullest for the energy sector (be it in terms of energy generation or storage). ENERGY STORAGE