Graphene Square, founded by Seoul National University chemistry professor Hong Byung-hee, plans to start mass-producing CVD graphene films at its Pohang plant in 2027. The facility can make 300,000 square meters per year, which the company says exceeds current global demand. Graphene conducts electricity about 100 times faster than copper and has roughly twice the thermal conductivity of diamond. The first commercial products are home appliances. A graphene multi-cooker is designed to run on 600W, about half the power of a conventional model, and the company says it can cook on battery power with roughly 30% higher efficiency. Hair and beauty devices are slated for mass production in early 2027, and the company is also developing EUV pellicles and heat dissipation materials for semiconductors. Graphene Square is using AI-based defect inspection and plans to recycle up to 97% of the copper used in production. The company wants to build a graphene industry cluster around Pohang. The bigger question is whether appliance makers will order in volumes that justify the plant's capacity.
