Japanese startup unveils 3D graphene structure built for faster-charging batteries
At CES 2026, 3DC showcased Graphene MesoSponge, a controllable 3D graphene material built for next-generation batteries.
At CES 2026, Japanese startup 3DC is presenting a new three-dimensional graphene nanomaterial designed to improve fast-charging and high-power battery performance.
The material, called Graphene MesoSponge (GMS), uses a porous, nanoscale structure that allows electrons to move more freely inside battery electrodes.
Unlike flat graphene sheets, GMS forms a connected internal network, which 3DC says reduces resistance and improves charging efficiency.
Founded in 2022, 3DC is commercialising research that began nearly a decade earlier at Tohoku University.
The company is backed by Open Innovation funding from Hyundai and is currently operating at pilot scale while working with global battery manufacturers.
Graphene built in 3D
GMS stands apart from conventional graphene because of its structure. It forms a hollow, sponge-like network with walls only one atom thick. The company controls pore size, layer count, and overall shape during manufacturing.
Kazushi Misawa from 3DC told Interesting Engineering, said:
We produce a three-dimensional graphene nanomaterial,
“It is a very unique type of nanomaterial.”
The nanoscale structure allows electrons to travel through interconnected pathways rather than across flat surfaces.
According to the company, that design improves electrical conductivity inside battery electrodes without relying on additional conductive additives.
Misawa said,
The material is used inside the electrodes of batteries,
“Graphene has very high electrical conductivity.”
By embedding the material directly into the electrode structure, 3DC aims to improve how batteries handle rapid energy flow during charging and discharging.
3DC says the internal structure of GMS plays a direct role in battery performance. The porous network allows electrons to move faster, which supports higher charging speeds and power output.
Misawa said,
Electrons can pass through the network inside this porous structure
“Because of that, electrons move faster inside the battery.”
The company says this design also helps reduce degradation over time. Improved electron transport lowers stress on battery materials during repeated charging cycles, which can extend usable life.
Misawa said,
This improves fast-charging performance and high-power performance,
“It also helps improve cycle life.”
Battery applications remain 3DC’s primary focus. The company is already supplying pilot-scale samples to manufacturers worldwide.
From pilot to production
3DC is currently testing its material with major battery companies.
Several global manufacturers are evaluating GMS for use in lithium-ion and next-generation battery designs.
Misawa said,
We have already sent samples to many battery manufacturers,
“Most major battery companies are currently testing our samples.”
The startup plans to scale up production soon. It aims to move from pilot manufacturing to full mass production in 2026.
Beyond batteries, 3DC says it can tailor the material’s structure for other uses, including semiconductor thermal management.
Branched structures support ion transport, while denser forms improve heat dissipation.
3DC holds more than 50 patents related to the material and its manufacturing process.
The company says that combination of structure control and scalability makes GMS difficult to replicate.
Misawa said,
This material is one of a kind,
“Only we can produce this structure.”
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Japanese startup unveils 3D graphene structure built for faster-charging batteries, source
