Iran has developed graphene-enhanced lead-acid batteries using nanotechnology for the first time in the country, with the new technology increasing battery capacity by more than 60 percent and extending service life compared with conventional products.

The technology was developed by knowledge-based Platinum Iran Company in collaboration with researchers from Amirkabir University of Technology and the Institute for Color Science and Technology (ICST).

It is designed to improve battery performance, reliability and lifespan while reducing maintenance costs.

The batteries could be used in critical infrastructure, including electricity grids, telecommunications networks, power plants and industrial facilities.

Mehdi Orouji, research and development manager at Platinum Iran, said the project began in 2021 as a joint industry-academia initiative involving the company, the Graphene and Advanced Materials Lab (GAM) at Amirkabir University of Technology and ICST.

"After four years of research and development, the project reached the stages of industrial production and commercialization," Orouji said.

He added that two units were sold last year, one delivered to Iran's Nanotechnology Development Headquarters and the other to the Tabriz gas transmission company.

According to Orouji, the technology incorporates three-dimensional graphene into both the positive and negative active materials of the batteries to address key weaknesses that limit the service life of conventional lead-acid batteries.

"The main objective of using this nanotechnology was to address the challenges and weaknesses that lead to a reduction in the lifespan of lead-acid batteries," he said.

Orouji said the research had resulted in a battery capacity increase of more than 60 percent, while its service life had improved by at least 10 percent compared with conventional batteries available on the market.

He also noted that the new batteries could last twice as long as commercial alternatives, potentially reducing operating costs by up to 50 percent over their service life.

Conventional lead-acid batteries are widely used across various industries but face technical challenges, including positive grid corrosion, hydrogen gas release and sulfation. These processes accelerate battery degradation and can lead to premature failure.

Orouji said the use of graphene had helped mitigate these problems.

"Hydrogen gas release has been reduced by at least 10 percent, while grid corrosion has also been significantly addressed," he said.

He added that graphene's capacitive properties contributed to improved battery capacity.

Orouji also said the innovation had been registered as a domestic invention and was covered by an international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application.

With financial support of 10 billion rials from Iran's Patent Center, the company also filed a US patent application last year, he added.

The application is expected to be approved and published online within three to four months, according to Orouji, who added that the invention had also received scientific validation from Iran's Organization for Scientific Research and Industrial Technology.

"Although conventional graphene is available on the market, battery-grade graphene is not commercially available. Achieving this specialized formulation was the main reason behind our success in securing a patent for the product," he said.