Graphene’s aluminium-ion battery innovation earns patent nod

Graphene Manufacturing Group Limited (GMG) has announced that the patent for its innovative Graphene Aluminium Ion Battery has been officially granted in Australia. The patent is held by The University of Queensland (UQ), and GMG holds a worldwide exclusive commercialisation license.

GMG is also progressing the patenting process in various other countries to protect and expand the global reach of this next-generation battery technology.

The Graphene Aluminium Ion battery’s pouch cell prototype, currently being co-developed with UQ and Rio Tinto, represents a key step toward commercial readiness.

To continue and deepen the joint research efforts, GMG has signed a new collaborative research agreement with UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN). This builds on an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project initiated in 2021, which laid the groundwork for co-developing the battery.

The agreement outlines how pre-approved personnel from both parties can work at each other’s premises and clarifies intellectual property rights. Under the agreement, GMG holds the exclusive first right to negotiate a license to use any developments made by UQ under this collaboration.

UQ has also been awarded AUD 880,000 in Australian Government funding to further develop the technology.

AIBN Executive Director Professor Alan Rowan said, "We look forward to continuing our strong research and development relationship with the world leading clean technology company GMG and deepening our knowledge on the graphene aluminium ion battery technology.”

GMG’s Managing Director and CEO Craig Nicol added, "GMG is very pleased to continue working with the world leading UQ AIBN team and collaborating with them to co-develop our next generation Graphene Aluminium Ion Battery."

Next development phase moves to the US

As previously announced on March 3, 2025, GMG has entered into a service contract with the Battery Innovation Center (BIC) in Indiana, USA, to support the next phase of battery development.

As a result, GMG is no longer pursuing plans to construct an Automated Battery Pilot Plant at its Richlands, Australia headquarters. GMG and the State of Queensland have mutually agreed to an early termination of the Queensland Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund Agreement.

This patent grant and expanded collaboration mark a significant advancement in GMG’s journey to commercialise a more sustainable and high-performance battery alternative to conventional lithium-ion technologies.

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