How to Build Graphene Exposure: Direct Holdings and Graphene ETF Strategies

As emerging applications for graphene continue to expand across electronics, energy, aerospace and automotive sectors, investors are increasingly seeking exposure to this transformative material. Whether through direct stakes in public graphene companies or via graphene ETF options, there are multiple pathways to participate in the sector’s growth. This guide explores both strategies and highlights the publicly listed graphene firms leading innovation as of early 2026.

Understanding Graphene: Why It Matters to Investors

Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. First isolated in 2004 by researchers at England’s University of Manchester using Scotch tape to peel flakes from graphite, the material is 200 times stronger than steel yet thinner than paper. Its exceptional properties—including high thermal and electrical conductivity, flexibility, transparency and the ability to generate electricity when exposed to sunlight—make it ideal for applications ranging from batteries and sensors to solar panels, medical equipment and sports gear.

The material’s lightweight yet durable composite forms are also finding demand in aerospace and automotive manufacturing, where weight reduction directly impacts fuel efficiency. In energy storage, graphene coatings and nanoplatelets are improving battery performance and charging speed, while in construction, graphene-enhanced concrete offers greater durability and strength.

The Graphene Investment Landscape: Direct Stocks vs. ETF Exposure

Investors have two primary approaches to graphene sector exposure. Direct investment in publicly traded graphene companies allows for targeted bets on specific business models and technologies—whether a firm focuses on bulk graphene production, specialized applications, or vertically integrated supply chains. A graphene ETF, by contrast, offers diversified exposure across multiple players, reducing single-company risk while capturing broader sector growth.

For those building a graphene investment portfolio, understanding the operational differences between these nine major publicly listed firms provides essential context for both strategies.

Nine Major Graphene Companies Reshaping the Sector

1. Black Swan Graphene (TSXV:SWAN) – Market Cap: C$64.71 Million

Black Swan positions itself as a bulk graphene producer targeting concrete, polymers and industrial applications. The company’s product lineup includes GraphCore graphene nanoplatelets and polymer-ready graphene-enhanced masterbatches (GEM). A significant partnership with UK chemicals manufacturer Thomas Swan & Co.—which holds a 15 percent stake and contributed patent portfolio and production expertise—has accelerated Black Swan’s buildout of a vertically integrated supply chain.

Production capacity expansion is underway, with the company targeting a jump from 40 metric tons annually to 140 metric tons per year through expanded UK manufacturing facilities. Recent commercial achievements include a 2024 partnership with Graphene Composites for ballistic protection technology applications, a distribution agreement with Broadway Colours for plastic manufacturing integration, and a 2025 strategic partnership with thermoplastic compounds producer Modern Dispersions. Black Swan also grew its distribution network through agreements with METCO Resources and Ferro, while securing a Canadian patent in September 2025 for its bulk graphene production method.

2. CVD Equipment (NASDAQ:CVV) – Market Cap: US$28.72 Million

CVD Equipment specializes in chemical vapor deposition systems and process solutions for developing advanced materials and coatings. The company’s equipment can produce graphene, carbon nanotubes, silicon nanowires and other nanomaterials, with particular focus on silicon carbide wafers for electric vehicles and semiconductors, plus battery materials and aerospace engine components.

The firm’s PVT200 system is engineered for growing silicon carbide crystals for 200-millimeter semiconductor wafers, while its chemical vapor infiltration systems produce advanced, energy-efficient materials for gas turbine engines. CVD Equipment maintains partnerships with academic institutions and industrial players; in October 2025, Stony Brook University ordered two PVT150 systems for its semiconductor research center.

Financial performance shows resilience, with revenues for the first three quarters of 2025 totaling US$20.8 million, up 7.1 percent year-over-year. Q1 2025 was particularly strong, with revenues jumping 69 percent year-over-year to US$8.3 million, though Q3 revenue of US$7.4 million declined 9.6 percent due to lower MesoScribe revenues following 2024 operational changes. The company has initiated a strategic transition from vertically integrated fabrication to outsourced component production.

3. Directa Plus (LSE:DCTA) – Market Cap: GBP 13.16 Million

Italy-based Directa Plus leads in graphene nanoplatelet production for commercial applications including textiles, composites and niche markets like golf balls designed to improve user control and elasticity. The firm’s proprietary G+ Graphene Plus formulation is both portable and scalable for market deployment.

A major expansion came through a December 2023 acquisition of a proprietary system for preparing graphene compounds for battery and polymer applications. The company’s Grafysorber technology, based on proprietary nanoplatelets, absorbs 100 times its own weight to recover oil and hydrocarbons from water, sludge and emulsions.

Environmental services subsidiary Setcar has secured multiple major contracts: a 1.5 million euro agreement with Midia International in February 2025 for tank cleaning services supporting offshore drilling in the Black Sea, a renewed 1.1 million euro contract with Ford Otosan (a Romanian Ford subsidiary) for waste management, and a 1.59 million euro contract extension with OMV Petrom in April 2025 for treating oil sludges and contaminated water.

Directa Plus reported fiscal 2025 revenues of 7 million euros, representing a 5.1 percent increase from 6.66 million euros in the prior year.

4. First Graphene (ASX:FGR, OTCQB:FGPHF) – Market Cap: AU$66.92 Million

First Graphene has developed an environmentally sustainable method for converting ultra-high-grade graphite into competitively priced, bulk-quantity graphene. The company participates in a nine-member consortium developing lightweight, impermeable cryogenic all-composite tanks for liquid hydrogen storage and transport—a critical component of emerging hydrogen infrastructure.

Collaborations with three Australian universities support development of graphene products including PureGRAPH graphene powder. The company’s vertically integrated operations address fire retardancy, energy storage and concrete applications. Its Kainos technology, designed for producing high-quality battery-grade synthetic graphite and pristine graphene from petroleum feedstock via scalable hydrodynamic cavitation, secured patents from Australian and South Korean governments in early 2025.

First Graphene completed an AU$2.4 million private placement to accelerate commercial expansion. In May 2025, the company secured an exclusive supply agreement with Indonesian safety boots manufacturer Alasmas Berkat Utama to provide approximately 2.5 metric tons of PureGRAPH 10 masterbatch over two years for Southeast Asia mining industry footwear.

In July 2025, First Graphene launched a 10-month research initiative with Imperial College London and University College London targeting graphene integration in 3D-printed metal aerospace and motorsport components. October 2025 saw sustainable energy firm Senergy launch a new solar and automotive product range incorporating PureGRAPH for the UK market.

The company’s fiscal 2026 Q2 ending December 31 delivered its strongest quarter to date, with operating cash inflows surging 423 percent quarter-over-quarter to AU$853,000 and customer cash receipts climbing 156 percent. Estimated fiscal 2025 income stood at AU$1.2 million per its June 2025 quarterly report.

5. Graphene Manufacturing Group (TSXV:GMG, OTCQX:GMGMF) – Market Cap: C$398.39 Million

GMG is a clean-technology firm commercializing energy-saving and energy-storage solutions based on proprietary graphene production. Product offerings include graphene-enhanced coatings for HVAC systems, electronic heat sinks, industrial plants and data centers, plus graphene lubricant additives for diesel and gasoline engines.

In May 2025, GMG’s board approved an AU$900,000 allocation for early works on its Gen 2.0 Graphene Manufacturing Technology plant, planned for its Queensland facility. With an estimated AU$2.3 million total capital cost, the Gen 2.0 plant is projected to come online by June 2026, initially operating at 1 metric ton per year before capacity upgrades to an expected 10 metric tons annually. That same month, GMG launched a direct-sales website for G Lubricant, commencing sales in July 2025 to customers across Australia, UK, Europe, China, Canada and the US.

The company is collaborating with Rio Tinto and the University of Queensland—backed by Australian government funding—to develop and commercialize graphene aluminum-ion batteries. A December 2025 update revealed that these batteries can charge in under 6 minutes with performance similar to lithium titanate oxide batteries at lower comparative cost. “With the possibility of charging from empty to full in around six minutes, this chemistry fundamentally changes how designers can think about electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and stationary storage,” stated GMG Director Bob Galyen. Sample cell testing with partners is planned for the year ahead.

6. Haydale (LSE:HAYD) – Market Cap: GBP 35.76 Million

Through its subsidiaries, Haydale designs, develops and commercializes advanced materials, focusing on proprietary heating ink-based technology and graphene integration into next-generation industrial applications. As of 2026, the company has expanded into a vertically integrated decarbonization platform via a newly acquired B2B platform.

A partnership with University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre supports development of conductive ink heating applications for automotive and residential sectors. In March 2025, Haydale announced new commercial contracts with Affordable Warmth Solutions for graphene heater ink products and with National Gas Transmission for network upgrade applications. April 2025 brought CE marking certification for JustHeat, its graphene-based heating system, confirming European compliance.

JustHeat was recognized as National Product of the Year at the 2025 National Energy Efficiency Awards, validating measurable energy performance improvements. To start 2026, Haydale completed its acquisition of SaveMoneyCutCarbon (trading as Intelligent Resource Management), a UK consulting firm whose sustainability hub facilitates company transitions to net-zero targets. This acquisition provides route-to-market and customer access for JustHeat and other technologies. Following the acquisition, the company officially shortened its name from Haydale Graphene Industries to Haydale.

7. HydroGraph Clean Power (CSE:HG, OTCQB:HGRAF) – Market Cap: C$1.2 Billion

HydroGraph produces cost-effective, high-purity graphene, hydrogen and strategic nanomaterials via an exclusive license from Kansas State University for the organization’s patented detonation process, yielding 99.8 percent pure carbon content graphene. Research conducted with Arizona State University demonstrated that HydroGraph’s Fractal Graphene performs as an ideal material for ultra-high-performance concrete and 3D-printed structures.

The company announced a technical collaboration with an unnamed global leader for graphene use in high-performance fiber applications. HydroGraph launched an advanced graphene dispersions product line designed to produce high-performance electrodes for energy storage, developed collaboratively with battery materials testing services firm NEI. In July 2025, HydroGraph launched a Compounding Partner Program targeting commercial-scale production of Fractal Graphene in thermoplastics, with initial certified partners from automotive and packaging sectors.

Graphene applications extend to medical diagnostics. HydroGraph holds a commercialization agreement whereby Ease Healthcare will market the LEAP early detection lung cancer test incorporating HydroGraph’s patented Fractal Graphene with Hawkeye Bio’s biosensor technology. Late 2025 brought HydroGraph its first US patent for electrically conductive porous carbon actuator technology employing proprietary Fractal Graphene to generate controlled mechanical force.

8. NanoXplore (TSXV:GRA, OTCQX:NNXPF) – Market Cap: C$444.5 Million

Founded in 2011, NanoXplore achieves high-volume, low-cost graphene production through a unique, environmentally friendly process. GrapheneBlack graphene powder significantly enhances plastic product reusability and recyclability. The company targets lithium-ion batteries through its patented SiliconGraphene battery anode material, which employs GrapheneBlack as a silicon coating agent to improve cell safety and reliability.

NanoXplore graphene products also serve internal combustion engine applications. Under its five-year strategic plan, the company expanded production capacity at its Quebec facility in 2024 to meet growing demand, with a major existing customer absorbing significant expansion costs. In September 2025, NanoXplore announced a multi-year agreement to supply Chevron Phillips Chemical with Tribograf carbon powder, a key NanoSlide lubricant ingredient for oil and gas drilling developed jointly by both firms.

October 2025 brought a Government of Canada contribution of up to US$2.75 million under the Energy Innovation Program. Fiscal 2025 revenues (year ended June 30, 2025) totaled C$128.91 million, down 1 percent year-over-year with slower second-half performance. Q1 fiscal 2026 revenues declined further to C$23.44 million, down 30 percent from the prior year. “After a strong Q1 last year, the reduction in volume demand from our two largest customers that began this year accelerated during the summer and significantly impacted our Q1 performance,” noted CFO Pedo Azevedo. However, management expects new agreements including the Chevron Phillips deal to offset headwinds.

9. Talga Group (ASX:TLG, OTCQX:TLGRF) – Market Cap: AU$201.97 Million

Talga is a vertically integrated battery anode and materials company mining its own graphite and producing anodes, operating across Sweden, Japan, Australia, Germany and the UK. The company also produces graphene additives for materials manufacturers targeting concrete, coatings, plastics and energy storage applications. Product lines include Talphite and Talphene graphene offerings: conductive additives for battery cathode and anode products, solid-state anodes and graphite recycling solutions.

In April 2025, Sweden’s Agency for Economic and Regional Growth granted Net-Zero Strategic Project status to Talga’s Luleå anode refinery under the EU Net-Zero Industry Act. Two months later, Swedish government approval came through for Talga’s mining permit for the Nunasvaara South natural graphite mine in Northern Sweden. In May 2025, Talga secured a binding offtake agreement with battery charging technology firm Nyobolt for approximately 3,000 metric tons of Talnode-C, its flagship battery anode product, over an initial four-year term commencing May 13, 2025.

Mid-August 2025 saw Talga launch Talnode-R, a proprietary graphite anode product manufactured from recycled lithium-ion battery waste sourced from gigafactory production scrap and spent end-of-life anodes. Year-end 2025 brought submission of a detailed mining plan for Nunasvaara South to the Swedish government, completion of an AU$14.5 million placement to fund engineering studies for a staged 5,000 metric ton-per-year production ramp, and late January 2026 Swedish government adoption of the mining plan—a critical milestone.

Building Your Graphene Investment Strategy: Direct Holdings vs. Graphene ETF

For investors targeting graphene sector exposure, the choice between direct holdings and graphene ETF vehicles involves tradeoffs. Direct investment in individual graphene companies allows concentrated bets on specific technological approaches—whether bulk production, specialized niche applications or vertically integrated supply chains. This strategy requires deeper company-level analysis but can capture outsized returns from specific winners.

Conversely, a graphene ETF approach provides instant diversification across multiple producers and application areas, reducing single-company risk while maintaining sector participation. ETF structures typically track the evolving landscape of publicly listed graphene firms and related suppliers, making them suitable for investors seeking exposure without picking individual winners.

Private Graphene Companies and Broader Ecosystem Opportunities

The nine publicly listed firms above represent only a portion of the graphene sector landscape. Investors considering graphene ETF exposure or broader sector positioning should also research private graphene firms advancing the technology, including ACS Material, Advanced Graphene Products, Graphene Platform, Graphenea and Universal Matter. These private entities are pushing innovation in applications and production methods that may influence the trajectory of publicly listed competitors.

Key Takeaways for Graphene Investors

Graphene’s exceptional properties—200 times stronger than steel, transparent, highly conductive thermally and electrically—position the material as foundational to emerging technologies across electronics, energy, aerospace, automotive and medical sectors. The nine publicly listed companies profiled offer diverse pathways to sector exposure, from bulk producers to specialized application developers.

Whether constructing a graphene investment portfolio through direct holdings in these publicly traded firms or seeking diversified exposure via graphene ETF structures, the sector’s expansion into battery technology, composite materials and energy-saving solutions offers compelling long-term growth opportunities for investors willing to evaluate company-specific fundamentals and sector momentum.