Shares of Alabama Graphite Corp (CSE:ALP) (OTCQX:ABGPF) rose 1.8 percent after the company said it found more evidence of naturally occurring graphene derivatives at its Coosa property in Alabama.
This type of graphene, called few-layer graphene, was found to come in a 2-5 layers, multi-layer or 2-10 layers, and graphite nanoplate (less than 100 nm thick) form.
"We are very excited about finding these additional types of graphene derivatives on our Property as it continues to enhance the potential business dimensions of our project. Work is ongoing on commercial scalability of our naturally occurring graphene and graphene-based derivatives. We are encouraged by the potential of developing natural alternatives to synthetic quality graphene derivatives at a lower cost," said Alabama Graphite’s CEO, Ron Roda,
The company used the same method of isolating graphene directly from the smallest graphite flakes at its property, which have been found to be as thin as less than 100 nm, which is in the range of a graphene layer.
"These sizes contain significant importance for advanced graphene/graphite applications because current scientific findings anticipate that as the flake thickness changes, the properties of the material also change. Such size-dependent behavior is commonly observed in synthetic graphene and its derivatives but having a natural counterpart could provide the potential to overcome the existing fabrication challenges associated with synthetic graphite nanoplates/multi, or few-layer graphene," said University of Alabama Associate Professor Dr. Nitin Chopra, who is working with Alabama Graphite under a sponsored research partnership.
Alabama Graphite has 42,000 acres of property in central Alabama, located along a historic graphite belt. Alabama Graphite’s property is located in the Alabama Graphite Belt, the only area in the United States where graphite has been mined profitably for decades.
Until now, the processing of graphene from naturally occurring graphite has been the object of considerable research. Scientists have identified some extraction methods, ranging from the original Nobel prize winning discovery at Manchester University involving a piece of transparent tape, to a 400W kitchen blender and expensive chemical vapor deposition.
Despite the variety of research methods, nobody has managed to extract graphene such as to realize production on the mass scale required for commercial viability. Research and development costs remain exorbitant.
Apart from its natural graphene potential, Alabama Graphite has shown a very high percentage of naturally occurring large flake graphite, which has applications in ‘basic’ and advanced technologies.
Shares of Alabama Graphite jolted on the news, trading at C$ 0.30 or 20 percent higher.