CNM Technologies (CNMT) has developed a highly permeable and selective composite membrane with a nanometre thin carbon nanomembrane (CNM) as active layer, which is – in the FET-open project ITS-THIN – introduced into demanding water separation applications. CNMT plans to introduce these membranes into the water filtration market. Recently, scientists at Friedrich-Schiller University Jena (FSU) showed in the framework of the Graphene FET-flagship a high proton and lithium ion permeance of CNMs. Combining these findings with the ability to produce large-area CNM-composite membranes, a fully new technology is emerging: the use of ultrathin CNMs as separator membranes or proton exchange membranes (PEM) in battery and fuel cell applications. Thinner membranes promise a faster and more selective ion transport resulting in smaller, more powerful, and more reliable energy storage devices. This new window of opportunity has been explored in this feasibility study.
The overall objective of CNergy was to lay the foundation for the use of Carbon Nanomembranes (CNMs) in energy storage applications. Based on the work in the project, it was decided that CNMs can have a positive impact as part of separator or proton exchange membranes in batteries and fuel cells. An action and business plan for future work in order to introduce CNMs into batteries and fuel cells was derived.