On February 8th, the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival has not yet dissipated, and the pilot production line for graphene aviation batteries at the Beijing Institute of Aerospace Materials of China Aero Engine Group (hereinafter referred to as the "Institute") has officially started. The on-site machines roared, and the technicians focused on adjusting the equipment parameters. The graphene aviation battery manufactured here will be applied to hybrid unmanned aerial vehicles. Graphene is known as the "king of new materials" and has excellent properties such as high electric thermal conversion efficiency and fast heating speed. Yan Shaojiu, director of the Graphene New Energy Materials Center at the Aerospace Materials Institute, told Science and Technology Daily reporters that "aviation batteries manufactured using new material technologies such as graphene can increase energy density by more than 50% compared to traditional batteries." As a representative of new quality productivity, low altitude economy has become an important direction for cultivating and developing new driving forces. In 2024, many regions will introduce specific support policies and action plans for low altitude economy, many of which mention the research and application of high-performance power batteries. Like new energy vehicles, the large-scale promotion and application of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) and drones, which are the main scenarios of low altitude economy in the future, cannot do without high-performance power batteries. The cost of power batteries accounts for about 30% -40% of the total cost of new energy vehicles. Based on this, it is estimated that the aviation power battery market in China has broad prospects. Currently, power battery companies with technological advantages such as CATL and EVE Energy have entered the market to create a low altitude economic "power source". Compared to new energy vehicle power batteries, aviation power batteries have higher requirements for safety, energy density, power density, fast charging performance, and cycle life. Among them, energy density is a key indicator for measuring battery performance, which directly affects battery endurance and efficiency. Energy density refers to the average amount of electrical energy released per unit volume or mass of a battery, expressed in watt hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). Yan Shaojiu introduced, "The energy density of traditional batteries is about 250Wh/kg, which is less than 1/40 of aviation kerosene." According to the "2023-2024 China Civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Development Report" released by the China Air Transport Association, battery life is currently one of the bottlenecks restricting the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. Introducing new materials is one of the ideas to improve battery performance. Graphene, due to its good electrical and thermal conductivity and large specific surface area, can greatly improve the energy density of lithium batteries when added. For example, developing lithium sulfur batteries with energy densities expected to exceed 600Wh/kg requires the use of graphene's high conductivity and large specific surface area characteristics, "said Yan Shaojiu. It is worth noting that there is still a certain gap between the energy density of aviation batteries on the market and the threshold of 400-500Wh/kg. 400Wh/kg is a watershed, roughly equivalent to twice the power of conventional new energy vehicle batteries, and can support the flight of small general-purpose aircraft Introduction by Yan Shaojiu. In 2008, domestic research institutions began to focus on the preparation and application research of graphene materials. In 2016, after the establishment of China Aero Engine Group, graphene lithium battery technology was listed as a key development direction and strongly supported. The Aerospace Materials Institute has established a Graphene New Energy Materials Research Center, introducing outstanding scientific and technological talents from home and abroad, and supporting related research through various fund projects. In recent years, the Aerospace Materials Institute has made breakthroughs in multiple key technologies and developed a complete set of equipment for mass production of graphene with independent intellectual property rights. The team has developed graphene high-power lithium battery technology, graphene ultra-low temperature lithium battery technology, etc. "Yan Shaojiu introduced that high-power lithium battery technology can achieve high-power discharge of electrical equipment, ensuring high safety while achieving 30C ultra-high rate discharge (discharge can be completed in as fast as 2 minutes); Ultra low temperature lithium battery technology can ensure the normal operation of electrical equipment in an environment of minus 40 degrees Celsius, which can meet the high-altitude takeoff requirements of low altitude aircraft. The Aerospace Materials Institute has also developed representative achievements such as ultra-thin lithium magnesium alloy negative electrode materials, and obtained 37 relevant authorized patents. The ultra-thin lithium magnesium alloy negative electrode material uses graphene as a three-dimensional current collector and applies graphene surface modification technology. The energy density of lithium batteries made from this material can reach 400Wh/kg, "Yan Shaojiu introduced. At present, some related technological achievements of the Aerospace Materials Institute have been transferred from the laboratory to the application market, helping the low altitude economy to "spread its wings and fly high". The Aerospace Materials Institute has collaborated with customers to develop graphene ultra-low temperature battery technology, achieving for the first time the application of graphene ultra-low temperature lithium battery technology in low altitude electric equipment. After multiple rounds of testing and optimization, graphene ultra-low temperature square shell batteries have achieved 3C discharge at minus 40 degrees Celsius and have been successfully applied to various models of low altitude electric equipment. It is reported that the Graphene New Energy Materials Research Center of the Aerospace Materials Institute currently has one battery key materials laboratory, one lithium-ion battery research and development line, and one pilot production line, with more than 400 production and testing equipment. The laboratory and factory have a total area of 10000 square meters and are equipped with high current charge and discharge testing equipment. Yan Shaojiu stated that in the next step, the research center will continue to promote the development and engineering application of graphene lithium battery materials, contributing to the vigorous development of the low altitude economy. (New Society)