Graphene nanotube manufacturer OCSiAl is planning a production facility in Luxembourg that could supply nanotubes for up to 10 million lithium-ion battery-powered EVs per year. 
The firm has been granted approval by Luxembourg authorities for a production plant, together with an associated state-of-the-art graphene nanotube R&D center in in the town of Differdange.
The facility will enhance the geographic accessibility of OCSiAl’s graphene nanotubes to Europe’s EV components market.
Luxemburg-headquartered OCSiAl plans to invest $300 million in the development of the facility.
Konstantin Notman, chief executive officer of OCSiAl Group, said the location gave the company access to more than 20 gigafactories in Europe, many of which were already its partner.
He said: “Its strategic location between Belgium, France and Germany will allow us to reduce logistics costs and work closely with leading automakers, the largest chemical producers, and large tire manufacturers across Europe.
“With the new facility, we’ll be able to supply these leading industries with advanced materials for the next generation of EV components.”
Graphene nanotubes in battery industry
A graphene nanotube is a form of carbon with a thickness of one atom, rolled into a tube.
Graphene nanotubes are 100 times stronger than steel, but lighter than aluminum, and a good electrical conductor.
When added to a material, nanotubes create a strong, conductive skeleton inside the material.
Applied in lithium-ion battery anodes, graphene nanotubes allow manufacturers to use fast-charging and energy-dense silicon in the mass production of lithium-ion battery cells.
Previously, the use of silicon was limited by the problem of its expansion during charging and discharging, which led to battery degradation.
Batteries with OCSiAl nanotubes are already in serial production by a number of unnamed “leading” lithium-ion battery makers.
