Abstract of the Offer
A UK-based SME offers an advanced glassy carbon material with exceptional chemical inertness, flexibility, and thermal resistance above 2500 °C. Applicable in energy storage, aerospace, chemical, biomedical, and optoelectronics sectors, the technology enables durable protective coatings, corrosion shielding, and dendrite suppression. Seeking licensing, joint development, and demonstration partnerships.
Description
This technology is a next-generation engineered carbon material classed as flexible, non-graphitizable glassy carbon. It has been developed to operate in extreme environments where conventional materials fail, such as high-temperature, corrosive, or electrochemically active systems.
The material functions as a protective coating and structural component with the ability to:
- Resist corrosion from acids, bases, and solvents.
- Maintain stability at temperatures >2500 °C.
- Support uniform electrochemical deposition, preventing dendrites.
- Enable mechanically resilient coatings that flex without cracking.
The enabling concept is the entangled carbon ribbon microstructure, which inhibits graphitisation and preserves isotropic properties at the nanoscale. It is manufactured using controlled precursor conversion and photonic curing methods, allowing scalable, crack-free films on metal and complex substrates.
Potential applications span: Energy storage, Chemical industry, Aerospace and defense, Biomedical, Optoelectronics, and Space
Space Applications:
- Thermal Protection & Structural Components: Coatings or structural elements stable above 2500 °C, useful in re-entry vehicles, propulsion systems, and high-temperature instrument housings.
- Corrosion & Radiation Resistance: Protective layers for spacecraft components exposed to atomic oxygen, plasma, or corrosive fuels.
- Electrochemical Systems in Space: Current collectors and electrodes for next-generation space batteries or regenerative fuel cells requiring long cycle life and dendrite suppression.
- Optical & Photonic Coatings: Radiation-hardened, photo-stable coatings for telescopes, sensors, or laser-based systems in space environments.
Advantages and Innovations
- Stable above 2500 °C without graphitisation.
- Exceptional corrosion resistance with up to 10× reduction in magnesium systems.
- Promotes dendrite-free ion deposition, extending electrochemical cycle life from <400 to >1250 cycles.
- Flexibility and crack resistance distinguish it from conventional brittle carbon films.
- Strong adhesion to metals and compatibility with 3D or flexible substrates.
- Scalable, eco-friendly production with no toxic by-products.