FGR secures exclusive global graphene carbon paste production and sale rights
First Graphene has signed a 12-month exclusive license with Halocell Australia to develop, manufacture, market, and sell a graphene-enhanced carbon paste worldwide. The agreement gives First Graphene sole global rights over the product during the term, while Halocell will receive a 10% royalty on sales and continue using the paste in its commercial perovskite solar cell lines.
The arrangement extends the companies’ ongoing collaboration, which has already explored optimal formulations, concentrations, and production workflows to integrate functionalized graphene into conductive pastes for printed electronics and energy devices.
Why this deal matters
- Graphene-enriched carbon paste serves as a highly conductive coating for flexible printed electronics, energy harvesting, and storage systems.
- The material is already being used in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) built by Halocell, supporting significant efficiency gains and lower manufacturing costs via roll-to-roll thin-film production.
- Compared with traditional conductors like gold, the carbon paste promises substantial cost reductions while preserving performance and boosting durability.
- Indoor PSCs from Halocell are being deployed in small electronics that operate in low-light environments, where high power conversion at low lux is crucial.
- The partners have identified dozens of additional device categories across satellite, aerospace, IoT, consumer electronics, and renewable energy that could benefit from PSCs and graphene-based conductors.
- The carbon paste market is projected to grow markedly over the decade, with graphene positioned to raise performance ceilings for next-gen products.
Perovskites meet graphene
By introducing functionalized graphene into carbon paste, the partners report major gains in module performance and manufacturing efficiency. In perovskite modules, the paste works as a cost-effective, conductive layer compatible with roll-to-roll deposition, enabling lightweight, thin-film devices that are cheaper and faster to produce than those using precious-metal conductors.
Halocell’s indoor-focused PSCs are already in market, powering compact devices that need to sip energy from ambient lighting. With the graphene-enabled paste, the company cites higher efficiency and improved robustness, which can translate into longer device lifespans and more reliable performance in real-world conditions.
Beyond solar: broad-use conductive material
The graphene-based paste isn’t limited to solar cells. Its conductivity and printability make it suitable for a spectrum of applications, including:
- Printed heaters and temperature-sensitive surfaces
- Sensors for industrial and consumer devices
- Ceramic and protective coatings
- Electrodes and electrochemical systems
In parallel, Halocell is collaborating with aerospace and battery partners on a lightweight power package that combines advanced solar and next-gen batteries to extend the flight time of electric drones. The same performance and mass advantages could apply to robotics, remote monitoring, and edge devices where every gram and milliwatt matter.
What it means for gaming, wearables, and XR
For interactive entertainment and immersive tech, the implications are compelling. Flexible, low-cost conductive pastes can streamline printed circuitry in controllers, haptics, and modular accessories. Indoor perovskites paired with graphene conductors could feed constant trickle-charge to handhelds, sensors, and smart straps—reducing dependence on frequent wall charging. As AR/VR headsets push for lighter designs and longer sessions, ultra-thin energy-harvesting layers and printed conductors may help shrink battery packs, enable self-powered sensors, and support more thermally efficient designs.
Production and rollout
First Graphene plans to begin producing sample quantities of the graphene-enhanced carbon paste at its Henderson facility within the next month. That ramp is intended to support both Halocell’s manufacturing needs and a broader commercial push into sectors seeking high-performance, cost-efficient conductive materials.
With exclusive worldwide rights throughout the term, First Graphene aims to bring the paste to global markets while leveraging the underlying intellectual property the partners have developed. The companies view the deal as a catalyst to accelerate adoption across solar, electronics, and emerging platforms where durability, conductivity, and scalable manufacturing converge.
