Semi-metal material graphene is being used in research labs around the world for several different practical applications in areas such as medicine, biotechnology, electrical engineering etc. Log 9 Materials, a Bengaluru-based nanotech start-up, has identified use cases for graphene in energy and filtration and has deployed graphene-based products in these two areas.
Akshay Singhal, co-founder of Log 9, had initially launched a product called PuFF, a graphene-based filter that can be attached to cigarettes, which he says can reduce the toxic chemicals from smoking by 50% with the smoker’s user experience not being affected. The product is now being sold by a pharma company under the brand name ‘Filtr’.
Log 9 was incubated at TIDES, the incubation centre of IIT Roorkee, in November 2015. The start-up develops nanotechnology-driven products for B2B and B2C sectors. It is focusing on graphene-based products such as non-electric water purification systems, air filtration and purification products. Log 9 currently holds three patents in graphene synthesis and graphene products.
Kartik Hajela, co-founder and vice president, Log 9, said the start-up is currently working on six new technology developments. Log 9 also manufactures high-quality nanomaterials in bulk for industrial production of these products.
One of the latest products Log 9 has developed is ‘LSP-20’ —an oil sorbent pad. “The product is applicable in industrial clean-up, oil leaks and spills. Our oil sorbent pads can absorb oil, petrol chemicals or other hydrocarbon-based liquids,” said Hajela. LSP-20 is able to absorb oil up to 86 times its own weight and has been tested against British standards by third-party laboratories and has also been certified safe to incinerate and dispose of. Hajela added that the product is competitive in terms of cost and performance efficiency. Log 9 has got pre-orders for the product from marine and oil refining companies.
Hajela said that Log 9 is now working on energy solutions as alternatives to conventional energy storage options such as lithium ion. It is looking to incorporate graphene into metal air batteries to make a commercially viable, clean solution for energy generation which does not require charging. Log 9 is targeting these batteries to be used in both mobility and stationary applications.
In March 2017, Log 9 had raised seed funding from GEMS, a micro-VC fund. In February 2018, it secured pre-series A funding of around `3 crore from Metaform Ventures, Hemant Luthra (chairman, Mahindra CIE), GEMS and other angel investors.