Mitsubishi Corp. (MC; Tokyo) and Denka Company Ltd. (Denka) have signed joint-venture (JV) agreement in the business of fullerenes, carbon molecules that form the base of cutting-edge materials in the field of nanotechnology. Under the terms of this agreement, Denka shall acquire from MC a 50% stake in Frontier Carbon Corporation (FCC), a company dedicated to the manufacturing and sales of fullerenes. Fullerenes are nanoscale allotropes of carbon, whose single or double-bonded atoms are joined together in hexagonal rings in spherical form, similar in appearance to a soccer ball. They have excellent conductive and thermal properties and can be dissolved in common organic solvents at room temperature, which makes them effective conductors in organic, thin-film solar cells.
Research is also underway into their application as an electron transporting layer in perovskite solar cells2, which are garnering attention as next-generation photovoltaic technology. Use as smartphone sensors and other new possibilities are indicative of strong growth potential in the field of fullerenes. Since establishing FCC in 2001, MC has leveraged tech-based collaborations with longstanding customers, built a sales network, and otherwise made strong inroads into the commercial-use fullerene market. Having acquired a substance3 and other fullerene related patents, MC is committed to applying its multi-industry collective capabilities towards FCC’s future growth and development.
Recognizing that the industrial potential of fullerenes spans their use in electronics, biopharmaceuticals, and many other industries, Denka also has plans to incorporate them into its operations in ICT & Energy, Healthcare, and Sustainable Living, the three focal fields of its latest management plan, “Mission 2030″6. MC and Denka look forward to combining our respective expertise in sales and technology to promote the growth of fullerene applications. Our shared goal is to leverage FCC’s operations to address societal challenges by developing systems to boost production and meet the growing demand for these cutting-edge materials.