Graphene—a single sheet of carbon atoms—is poised to redefine our world, and Kjirstin Breure, President and CEO of HydroGraph, is leading the charge. In a riveting FS Insider interview with Cris Sheridan, Breure unveils a nanotechnology era where graphene outshines silicon. With a detonation-driven process and a vision of limitless applications, Breure sees graphene slashing emissions, boosting strength, and powering innovation. “It almost brings sci-fi to life,” she says. Whether for concrete, conductive materials, or desalination, here’s how graphene is poised to impact the world around us.
Listen to the full audio interview and discussion here: The Graphene Age: Kjirstin Breure on Today's Nanotechnology Revolution.
The Dawn of the Graphene Age
Breure frames humanity’s progress through materials—from bronze to silicon—and declares a seismic shift: “What I believe we’re entering now is an age of nanotechnology… dominated by graphene.” Why graphene? “It is the strongest and most conductive material that’s ever been discovered,” she explains, a pure carbon marvel. Unlike past trade-offs—strength for brittleness—graphene’s versatility lets HydroGraph “functionalize” it, layering traits like conductivity and durability. “It really opens up a whole new world,” she marvels, eyeing a future beyond silicon’s reach.
A “super-material” stronger than steel, harder than diamonds, more conductive than copper, with better electron mobility than silicon. [source]
Small Doses, Massive Impact
A pinch of graphene transforms everything. “You just add a small amount… adding this atomic precision,” Breure says, likening it to Sheridan’s yeast-in-dough analogy. In concrete—a carbon behemoth—she cites data: “0.02% added just by weight to the binder… you can decrease by about 20% the amount of concrete.” It cures faster, slashes emissions, and boosts strength. For nylon, 0.06% of graphene in polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—a common thermoplastic polymer widely used in packaging, textiles, and other industrial applications—cuts material use, saving costs and carbon. “It’s cost-effective… often at a break-even cost,” she notes, turning tiny doses into industrial giants.
Graphene Powder
HydroGraph’s Explosive Edge
How does HydroGraph stand out? Breure reveals a radical process: “We’re effectively building a bomb.” Using acetylene gas in a steel chamber, sparked into a hypersonic blast, they crystallize carbon into pristine graphene platelets. “We’re much more crystalline than other graphenes,” she says, sidestepping graphite’s impurities—sulfur, trace metals—that dull performance. Born from Dr. Sorensen’s serendipitous Kansas State University experiment, this method ditches energy-heavy peeling for a pure, potent product. “It’s one of those brilliant things with science,” Breure reflects, now fueling HydroGraph’s commercial push.
Limitless Applications
Graphene’s reach is staggering. “It’s almost limitless,” Breure asserts, listing water filtration, composites, coatings, and beyond. Sheridan marvels: “Mind-boggling number of applications.” Concrete’s 20% reduction is just the start—nylon fibers strengthen, lubricants boost efficiency, even fuel gains traction. “It can be used almost anywhere,” she says, from drug delivery to batteries to carbon fiber. A recent graphene semiconductor hints at computing leaps, though HydroGraph focuses industrially. “The more we learn… the more we find these… beneficial effects,” Breure says.
Graphene Cuts Carbon
Environmental wins thrill Breure most. Concrete’s carbon footprint—fourth globally if a nation—shrinks with graphene: less material, lower emissions. “Very significant environmental benefits,” she says. Lightweighting cuts production waste; lubrication eases machinery wear. Sheridan sees the stakes: desalination could unlock water access worldwide. “It’s a very cost-effective solution… we can produce in bulk,” Breure promises, eyeing a “massive beneficial effect” across industries. Her vision? “The amount of carbon emission reductions… is going to be astounding.”
Commercial Countdown
HydroGraph’s on the cusp. “We do have a purchase order,” Breure shares, not yet a contract but racing ahead with a technical fibers giant—think aerospace, military, civilian uses. “It would exceed 1,000 metric tons of graphene annually,” she hints, expecting a deal by year-end. With decades of patented know-how, Breure shrugs off copycats: “It is a feat to manage a hypersonic explosion… we innovate faster.” Her bet? Stay ahead, scale up, and dominate.
Beyond Silicon’s Shadow
Breure’s boldest claim? “I truly believe it will have a greater impact than silicon has,” she tells Sheridan. From energy storage to sensing, graphene’s atomic precision crafts a future of smaller, stronger, smarter devices. “We’re really scratching the surface,” she says, predicting a rapid rise—faster than silicon’s 50-year climb. Visit HydroGraph.com or LinkedIn to track HydroGraph’s ascent. Breure’s parting shot: limitless potential, unfolding now.
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