NAiEEL Technology: Providing BNNT with Affordable Economics and Quantity

Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) is one of the most promising nanomaterials for the fourth industrial revolution. However, currently available technologies for BNNT synthesis may not be suitable for mass production as they require expensive systems and high energy consumption. At the same time, the throughput levels remain at very low, making the process even more tedious and costly.

That’s where Naieel Technology comes in.

Naieel Technology is currently able to produce high-quality BNNT in kg level per week best in the world, and it can be easily upscaled with the increasing demand. The company supplies two products of BNNT powder with the trademark “NanoBorNT,” which means “born into nano” and “nano boron nitride tubes,” with 80 and 90 wt% in BNNT content while the rest is h-BN particles and flakes, respectively, with >99.9wt% of h-BN chemical purity. To produce chemically pure and morphologically pure BNNT, the company has developed its own purification process, which is simple, affordable, and fast.

The energy consumption for Naieel’s BNNT production is as low as ~2kWh/system when it is at equilibrium, and the system cost is very less since it is based on the conventional furnace. As a result, it can produce several tens of tons of BNNT per year in a cost-efficient manner near future.

Since the aspect ratio (ratio of length and diameter) of its BNNT is relatively small, as low as 200 and 300, the diameter is 30~50 nm on average, and the length is >5um, it is relatively easy to disperse in any and various mediums homogeneously. Further, Naieel has also developed the simple BNNT surface treatment methods feasible to various hydrophilic and hydrophobic mediums.

“We provide an ultimate solution for BNNT, , creating new technologies don’t exist now. Once more people know that Naieel provides BNNT with affordable economics and quantity, then the market will react differently,” says Dr. Jaewoo Kim, the CEO and CTO of Naieel. “We are on a mission to correct the false and biased ideas for BNNT’s bad economy, which hinders its industrial applications.”

Solving the Problem of Mass Production

Naieel’s BNNT can be used as an additive (as low as 0.5 wt%) into the conventional thermal interface materials (TIM) used for semiconducting packaging enhancing thermal conductivity even higher than >10 W/mK while maintaining workability. This can be applied to various IT/IoT areas including PCB, LED, EMC, as well as EV’s thermal management, etc.

Also, Naieel’s BNNT can be used as an efficient and economical catalyst as it is combined with a small amount of noble metal group as low as 0.1 wt%. It can substitute very expensive noble metal group catalysts such as Pt, Pd, and Rh. This catalyst can be used in fuel cells (PEMFC) as a hydrogen oxidation catalyst and thermally stable membrane.
More importantly, Naieel’s BNNT can be used as an additive for electrolytes and separators for enhancing lithium-ion conductivity, chemical/thermal stability, charging capacity increase, and low-temperature performance. Currently, the company is developing the BNNT additives for the electrolytes and separators (also solid electrolytes) used for the advanced battery systems.

Solution for a Cleaner Energy and Environment

Naieel’s BNNT is based on the technology developed by Dr. Kim. He conceived the technology when he was a researcher for Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Ultimately, the successful execution of the BNNT business has made it possible for Naieel to contribute to the technological and economic growth of its country by addressing the industrial needs for advanced materials of manufacturing.

“We believe that a fundamental component such as BNNT transforms the industrial paradigms that exist within the fourth industrial revolution,” says Dr. Kim. “Presently, all team members at Naieel are working together closely with passion and pleasure, and we are proud of our achievements in providing a solution for a cleaner energy and environment landscape for the next-generations in this society.”

Naieel provides the BNNT surface treatment for easier use, BNNT-polymer slurries as a masterbatch, and BNNT dispersed solvents in various forms for the customers to use its BNNT more conveniently. The company currently offers BNNT products with affordable prices and quantity meeting the industrial demands.

Most of these performances are under big progress, and sure will be fruitful very soon.