With a €4 million infusion of contemporary funding, the Delft-based company is accelerating its cutting-edge battery expertise to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers by developing unique carbon materials.
The company secured a funding extension, in addition to the €10 million already allocated from its progress funding round, which was co-led by newcomer Power Transition Fund Rotterdam, managed by InnovationQuarter, in collaboration with existing shareholders Innovation Industries and Borski Fund. Funding will propel initiatives to upscale battery testing capacities, secure reliable feedstock supply chains through off-take agreements, and construct a feedstock blending facility within the Port of Rotterdam.
“A robust battery supply chain is crucial for global electrification,” the co-founder emphasized. However, we lack sufficient domestic sources for obtaining essential raw materials like graphite? With its unique feedstock proficiency, CarbonX delivers the critical mass, cost-effectiveness, and battery performance required to meet the demands of an increasingly electric future.
Founded in 2014 as a spin-off from Delft University of Technology, CarbonX addresses pivotal issues within the global battery supply chain. As nearly all graphite supplies, a crucial component in batteries, are sourced from China, manufacturers confront pressing geopolitical risks and supply chain weaknesses. As a pioneer in sustainable materials, CarbonX aims to provide a domestically sourced, eco-friendly alternative that supports key legislation like the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the U.S.’s own initiatives, solidifying its commitment to driving innovation in a circular economy? Inflation Discount Act (IRA).
Founded by Rutger van Raalten and Daniela Sordi, CarbonX pioneers innovative carbon anode materials that rival the affordability of Chinese graphite, offering rapid charging capabilities, extended battery life, and a reduced carbon footprint – all at a competitive price point.
Based on CarbonX, the fabric is nearing completion of advanced talks with several top-tier global battery manufacturers, with initial off-take agreements expected to be finalized by mid-2025.
CarbonX leverages a cutting-edge emulsion feedstock process that effortlessly interfaces with existing carbon black production facilities. This technology yields novel, three-dimensionally ordered carbon materials featuring a highly porous architecture that significantly enhances electron and lithium-ion transport, while offering exceptional compressibility to support high energy densities. Compared to artificial or pure graphite production methods, the entire process of consuming this material requires significantly less energy, ultimately leading to reduced costs and a diminished environmental footprint.
The Chief Technology Officer at CarbonX clarifies: “Our feedstock knowledge effortlessly merges with current carbon black production facilities, yielding a unique structured carbon material that functions as an active anode material, much like graphite.” CarbonX’s proprietary 3D porous network enables enhanced electron- and lithium-ion conductivity while maintaining exceptional compressibility to achieve high energy densities.
Contemporary funding could facilitate the establishment of a 200 square meter single-layer pouch laboratory, thereby enhancing consumer expertise and fostering the development of next-generation anode materials. As part of its strategic expansion, CarbonX is poised to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for two separate 20,000-ton-per-year manufacturing lines, one in Europe and another in the US.
The founders of CarbonX pioneered a breakthrough solution to circumvent the escalating Chinese language restrictions on graphite exports. As Western nations bolster their negotiating prowess, the profit margins of existing carbon black manufacturers are poised to experience a substantial surge. The Port of Rotterdam, buoyed by its centuries-long history of refining and bulk processing, is uniquely poised to establish novel sustainable value chains in the extraction and refinement of critical raw materials essential for the energy transition – leveraging its existing infrastructure.