Graphene Opportunities
2013-2018: Technology, Markets, Players

Graphene Opportunities 2013-2018: Technology, Markets, Players

Graphene is a hot topic. It promises to offer the best possible material properties in almost all applications. Its extraordinary performance has led many to call it the 'superlative' or 'wonder' material. The reality however is different and this report diligently separates hype from reality using our detailed understanding of the graphene technology and industry.

IDTechEx forecasts that 100 million dollars of graphene will be sold in 2018 into a range of applications, including RFID, smart packaging, super capacitors, composites, ITO replacement, sensors, logic and memory, etc.

For each market segment, the forecasts are provided by both value and mass. The forecast models are based on (a) our detailed market knowledge at application level, (b) our critical assessment of graphene's value proposition per target market, and (c) existing and projected commercial activity at company level. Our knowledge base was built up by interviews relevant players across the industry and tracking and interpreting the latest around the globe.

IDTechEx finds that there is no single graphene, but they are different types of graphene. Each type has a different a microstructure, layer number, oxygen content, etc. And each type offers a different set of properties therefore targeting a different set of markets.

Graphene can be manufactured using a variety of techniques. IDTechEx critically assesses the potential volume production capability, cost structure, and graphene quality for each technique. Here, we evaluate mechanical micro-cleavage, chemical vapour deposition, liquid-phase exfoliation, oxidisation-reduction and various plasma approaches.

The value proposition of each type of graphene for each target market is critically assessed. Beyond R&D, the markets examined include high-performance composites, smart packaging, RFID, energy storage including supercapacitors and lithium ion batteries, sensors, touch screens and other ITO replacement opportunities, etc. For each application, the state of technology development and approximate market development time scale is determined.

For each market segment, the main go-to-market strategies are presented and analysed. Where appropriate, the incumbent and emerging rival materials are identified and examined. These materials include carbon black, carbon fibre, graphite, carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, ITO, silver flakes, copper nanoparticles, aluminium, silicon, GaAs, ZnO, etc. In many cases, graphene-enabled performance premiums, which give space for premium pricing, are evaluated.

In our assessment, a critical link between the manufacturing technique, graphene quality, and accessible potential target markets is established. This way, companies can be sorted by their size and maturity of potential addressable target markets.

Detailed company profiles are provided. In many cases, the profiles are compiled using direct interviews with decision-makers within the companies. For each company, detailed insight is given into their state of the technology, target markets, assets and business strategy. Using our insight, an overall picture of the emerging graphene industry, from an investment and revenue prospective, is constructed.

Who should buy this report?

Players active in:

• Commercialising graphene and carbon nanotubes
• Providing materials that graphene will rival including silver nanowires, silver nanoparticles, ITO, carbon black, carbon fibre, etc
• Assessing the use of graphene as additive in composites and epoxies
• Developing transparent conductors and alternatives to ITO.
• Feeding into the graphene supply chain including graphite miners
• Producing and using conductive inks, particularly for smart packaging applications
• Assessing options for RFID inks
• Providing energy storage solutions including batteries and supercapacitors
• Developing transistors including printed ones
• Investing in emerging technologies

• 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • 1.1. Ideal graphene vis-a-vis reality
  • 1.2. Attributes of graphene manufacturing techniques
  • 1.3. The state of the industry and best way going forward
  • 1.4. Markets overview and forecasts
• 2. GRAPHENE - THE WONDER MATERIAL?
  • 2.1. What is graphene?
  • 2.2. Why is graphene so great?
• 3. THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF GRAPHENE
• 4. COST-EFFECTIVE AND SCALABLE MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUE IS THE HOLY GRAIL
• 5. THE STATE OF INVESTMENT, PRODUCTION AND REVENUE IN THE GRAPHENE MARKET
• 6. MOVING UP THE VALUE CHAIN IS CRITICAL
  • 6.1. Who will be the winner in the graphene space?
• 7. THE IP ACTIVITY IS MOVING FROM THE MANUFACTURING SIDE TO COVER END USES
• 8. REDUCED GRAPHENE OXIDE
  • 8.1. Manufacturing details- process, material set, scalability, cost, quality, etc
  • 8.2. Reduction methods
  • 8.3. Assessment and market view
  • 8.4. Companies
  • 8.5. Pros and cons
• 9. CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION
  • 9.1. Manufacturing details- process, material set, scalability, cost, quality, etc
  • 9.2. Transfer
  • 9.3. Assessment and market view
  • 9.4. Companies
  • 9.5. Pros and cons
• 10. LIQUID PHASE EXFOLIATION
  • 10.1. Manufacturing details- process, material set, scalability, cost, quality, etc
  • 10.2. Assessment and market view
  • 10.3. Companies
  • 10.4. Pros and cons
• 11. PLASMA
  • 11.1. Manufacturing details- process, material set, scalability, cost, quality, etc
    • 11.1.1. Plasma Approach I
    • 11.1.2. Plasma Approach II
  • 11.2. Assessment and market view
  • 11.3. Companies
  • 11.4. Pros and cons
• 12. A GENERAL MARKET OVERVIEW
  • 12.1. Graphene markets- target markets, go-to-market strategy, the interplay between manufacturing technique and application, etc
  • 12.2. Assessment for graphene target markets
  • 12.3. Application/product development lifecycle per market segment
• 13. GRAPHENE FUNCTIONAL INKS- WHAT IS THEIR MARKET POSITION?
  • 13.1. Which applications/market segments will benefit?
  • 13.2. Assessment
  • 13.3. Conclusion
• 14. GRAPHENE- DOES IT HAVE A FUTURE AS AN ACTIVE CHANNEL IN TRANSISTORS?
  • 14.1. Graphene- are they good for transistors?
    • 14.1.1. Digital Applications
    • 14.1.2. Analogue/RF Electronics
    • 14.1.3. Large Area Electronics- a comparison with other thin film transistor technologies
  • 14.2. Conclusions
• 15. GRAPHENE IN POLYMERIC COMPOSITES- THE LARGEST NEAR-TERM OPPORTUNITY FOR GRAPHENE
  • 15.1. Graphene/polymeric composites
  • 15.2. Is there an added value or performance enhancement?
  • 15.3. Which applications/market segments will benefit?
  • 15.4. Our assessment
  • 15.5. Conclusions
• 16. GRAPHENE - HAS IT POTENTIAL IN LITHIUM-ION OR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM METAL BATTERIES?
  • 16.1. Is there an added value or performance enhancement?
  • 16.2. Does graphene add value or improve performance when added to epoxy, polyester, PVA, PANI, polycarbonates, PET, PVDA, PDMS, rubber, etc
• 17. GRAPHENE- A WINNER REPLACEMENT FOR ITO?
  • 17.1. What markets require a transparent conductor?
  • 17.2. Why is ITO dominant and why replace it?
  • 17.3. Is ITO the only doped metal oxide used in the industry?
  • 17.4. Is graphene the only material trying to replace ITO?
  • 17.5. Is there an added value or performance enhancement?
  • 17.6. Graphene does offer flexibility- is that good enough?
  • 17.7. How does graphene compare against other transparent conductors?
  • 17.8. Assessment
  • 17.9. Conclusions
• 18. GRAPHENE - DOES IT DELIVER VALUE IN SUPERCAPACITOR?
  • 18.1. Supercapacitors- technology and markets
  • 18.2. Is there an added value or performance enhancement?
  • 18.3. Assessment
  • 18.4. Conclusions
• 19. GRAPHENE FUNCTIONAL INKS IN RFID TAGS
  • 19.1. The big picture - number of tags, classifications, price tags
  • 19.2. What are the material options for RFID tags and how do they compare?
  • 19.3. Does graphene deliver a value in this crowded market?
  • 19.4. Market shares
• 20. SUMMARY - FORECASTS AND ASSESSMENT
  • 20.1. Forecast per sector by mass, market share and value
    • 20.1.1. Smart Packaging
    • 20.1.2. ITO replacement
    • 20.1.3. RFID
    • 20.1.4. R&D
    • 20.1.5. High-strength composite
    • 20.1.6. Supercapacitors
• 21. COMPANY INTERVIEWS
  • 21.1. Cheaptubes
  • 21.2. Durham Graphene Science
  • 21.3. Grafen
  • 21.4. Graphenea
  • 21.5. Graphene Frontiers
  • 21.6. Graphene Industries
  • 21.7. Graphene Laboratory
  • 21.8. Graphene Square
  • 21.9. Graphene Technologies
  • 21.10. Haydale
  • 21.11. Incubation Alliance
  • 21.12. Nanoinnova
  • 21.13. University of Cambridge
  • 21.14. University of Exeter
  • 21.15. Vorbeck
  • 21.16. XG Sciences
  • 21.17. Xolve
• 22. COMPANY PROFILES
  • 22.1. AMO GmbH, Germany
  • 22.3. BASF, Germany
  • 22.4. Carben Semicon Ltd, Russia
  • 22.5. Carbon Solutions, Inc., USA
  • 22.6. Catalyx Nanotech Inc. (CNI), USA
  • 22.7. Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), USA
  • 22.8. Grafoid, Canada
  • 22.9. GRAnPH Nanotech, Spain
  • 22.10. Graphene Energy Inc., USA
  • 22.11. Graphensic, Sweden
  • 22.12. Harbin Mulan, China
  • 22.13. HDPlas
  • 22.14. HRL Laboratories, USA
  • 22.15. IBM, USA
  • 22.16. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA
  • 22.17. Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Germany
  • 22.18. Nanostructured & Amorphous Materials, Inc., USA
  • 22.19. Pennsylvania State University, USA
  • 22.20. Quantum Materials Corp, India
  • 22.21. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), USA
  • 22.22. Rice University, USA
  • 22.23. Rutgers - The State University of New Jersey, USA
  • 22.24. Samsung Electronics, Korea
  • 22.25. Sungkyunkwan University Advanced Institute of Nano Technology (SAINT), Korea
  • 22.26. University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
  • 22.27. University of Manchester, UK
  • 22.28. University of Princeton, USA
  • 22.29. University of Southern California (USC), USA
  • 22.30. University of Texas at Austin, USA
  • 22.31. University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA
• APPENDIX: IDTECHEX PUBLICATIONS AND CONSULTANCY