Materials
“The carbon nanomaterial family, which includes graphene, can enhance properties of common materials – such as steel or plastics – by improving corrosion resistance, reducing gas permeation or allowing for active opto-electronic coatings. Of course, the greatest attention is on the extraordinary electronic properties that could augment a number of current application areas.”
“Some people see graphene as a big opportunity; but others see it as ahuge threat.”
James Baker University of Manchester
Silva reveals that the university is strengthening links with a number of large multinationals that are backing the Graphene Research Centre, to apply graphene and related material in coatings. He adds: “We are also involved in national (EPSRC, DSTL) and European projects examining the properties of graphene and related materials, as well as their applications. Our aim is to produce graphene-based materials suitable for
commercial use, and to investigate how to manufacture these materials on a commercial scale.”
Silva believes that graphene will be attractive for markets with existing experience of working with carbon-based materials, such as the automotive and display sectors, “and adaptable niche markets in, for example, sustainable energy generation and storage, or microelectronics.”
In discussions with industry players, Silva has often encountered the question of whether graphene can retain its properties when used in practical applications. His answer is disarmingly simple: “It is
understandable that there is some concern. The physics of the situation are staggering when one thinks of the fact that we are attempting to use atomic layer materials to modify and/or protect bulk surfaces over large areas. That is why it is such an exciting, demanding and potentially disruptive technology – if we get it right!
“Large area graphene alone may not be the first material to be exploited. More than likely graphene flakes will be used in combination with other materials, or related materials, such as reduced graphene oxide, which offers some possibility for chemical functionalisation, and thereby solution processability. The ability to use graphene to encase other nanomaterials, such as metal nanoparticles, potentially extends the properties of the materials on their own. But these solutions will not be applicable for the microelectronic industry sectors that will need large-area, high-quality materials from a process such as chemical vapour deposition (CVD).”
Silva explains that those materials may be very smart, multi-functional composites. He says: “For example, we have demonstrated that we can encase iron nanoparticles in graphene. The graphene protects the iron from oxidation or corrosion, even in nitric acid.”
Silva cites two main barriers to commercialisation at present. “The first is that graphene needs some early adopters who translate the excellent academic work to practical applications. Once it gains a critical momentum, other applications will have the confidence to follow. The other is that it needs a sufficient commercial scale. Companies such as Thomas Swan, Durham Graphene Science and Haydale are doing fantastically well to develop bulk materials suitable for early applications that require solution- processable graphene. We will follow their lead with our high-quality, large area CVD-deposited coatings.” l
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