Graphite: Explore the road to technological upgrading
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September 01 08:27:58, 2025
**Abstract**
In recent years, China's graphite industry has attracted increasing attention from the government, especially in terms of technological innovation. Experts and academicians have also provided strong support. The "Industry Access Conditions for Graphite" issued at the end of last year set specific requirements for new high-purity graphite projects, emphasizing energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies. New and expanded projects are required to adopt advanced methods such as electrolytic oxidation or strong acid impregnation, while flexible graphite projects should use continuous expansion and calendering molding processes. As a result, many graphite companies have rushed into deep processing projects to compete for high-value products. However, due to late starts, lack of technology, limited funds, and talent shortages, some enterprises face challenges in technological development, leading to slow progress.
What is the current state of China’s graphite technology? What kind of technologies and products do companies need? And what are the promising future directions? To answer these questions, this reporter conducted interviews with industry experts and company representatives.
**Technology Upgrades and Initial Results**
At the beginning of August, the annual meeting of the Graphite Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance was held in Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province. During the event, reporters and participants visited the Jixi Graphite Industrial Park and several local companies. They observed that, supported by resources and policies, the industrial park has seen significant development, with multiple graphite projects being launched. Entrepreneurs have introduced advanced technologies and equipment, developing new products and expanding their operations.
One of the highlights was the research on single-layer graphene, which demonstrated remarkable light transmission properties. A local executive noted that the rapid development of the graphite industry over the past few years was once unimaginable. According to Professor Shen Wanci from Tsinghua University, until the 1980s, China's graphite industry was limited to mining, mineral processing, and basic purification. It lagged behind global standards by about 30–40 years. However, since the 1990s, driven by the lithium-ion battery industry, China developed spherical graphite and anode materials, reaching international levels.
With growing awareness, graphite is now recognized as a strategic resource. Efforts are being made to protect domestic graphite and promote innovative deep processing technologies. In 2011, ten academicians proposed establishing a national high-tech graphite product base in Heilongjiang, which received support from the State Council. The Ministry of Science and Technology launched a national science and technology support plan, investing around 150 million yuan, and established a technology innovation service platform.
Heilongjiang Aoyu Graphite Group is a prime example of successful deep processing. The company has developed ultra-fine spherical graphite with particle sizes below 8 microns, which is now exported to Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. Meanwhile, Jixihao New Energy Materials Co., Ltd. has improved its production process, achieving higher temperatures and better quality. Their products meet German and U.S. standards and have been patented.
**There is Still a Need for the Road to Innovation**
Despite progress, China’s graphite deep processing still lags behind developed countries. The industrial chain is short, and high-tech products are scarce. Most products remain in raw material form. Flexible graphite is still in trial production, and lithium-ion battery applications are in early stages. Advanced technologies like silicon-impregnated graphite are not yet available domestically.
Germany, the U.S., and Japan have monopolized advanced graphite technologies, using China’s low-cost raw materials to produce high-value products. This imbalance highlights the need for more investment and technological breakthroughs. According to Qi Zhixiang, former Secretary-General of the China Graphite Industry Association, the key lies in selecting large-scale graphite for high-purity production. However, China lacks proper protection of its resources, leading to wasteful mining and low-value exports.
Experts like Shen Wanci point out that producing high-quality anode materials and thermal conductive materials remains challenging. While bulk graphene production is feasible, finding suitable applications and forming industries requires further development. Han Yufeng emphasized the need for improvements in areas such as mineral processing, tailings utilization, and superconducting materials.
**Transforming New Materials Is the Direction of Development**
Experts suggest that China should focus on carbon-based materials and accelerate the industrialization of new carbon materials. Liu Qiyan from the Ministry of Science and Technology recommends expanding the graphite industry into broader carbon-related sectors. Shen Wanci proposed a roadmap including advanced mining, eco-friendly purification, and the development of high-quality anode materials.
Luo Chengwang of Hubei Yichang Xincheng Co., Ltd. stressed the importance of protecting large-scale graphite and improving its value. He also highlighted the need for flexible graphite to move toward high purity and thinness, and for spherical graphite to be replaced by carbon or graphene materials. Han Yufeng advocated for targeted technical planning, focusing on high-purity graphite and graphene production, and extending the industrial chain to include high-value products.
Overall, while China's graphite industry has made progress, it still faces challenges in technology, resource management, and market competition. Continued innovation, policy support, and collaboration among industry players will be essential for long-term growth.