What if your next-gen energy storage tech came from...coal tar? In this episode, we dive into a game-changing study that flips the script on graphene synthesis. Scientists have discovered a low-cost, scalable way to create high-performance 3D graphene using coal tar pitch and a recyclable potassium carbonate catalyst. The result? An ultra-high surface area material with jaw-dropping capacitance—perfect for supercapacitors. We’ll unpack how this method outperforms commercial standards, explore why the ability to reuse the catalyst matters for sustainability, and geek out on why this might just be a turning point for energy tech. Buckle up—this is graphene like you’ve never seen it before.

Featured paper and patent in this episode:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/smtd.202301426

https://patents.google.com/patent/US20250051167A1/en