Graphene commercialisation deal signed

The agreement will see the two organisations work together on the development of graphene metrology, characterisation and standards vital to industry uptake, with a view to establishing a Joint Centre of Excellence.

The agreement was signed at NPL’s Graphene & 2-D Materials conference yesterday, and follows chancellor George Osborne’s announcement in September that a second graphene research centre was to be built at the University of Manchester, alongside the National Graphene Institute (NGI) which is due to open next year.

“With its many amazing properties, graphene has the ability to totally transform entire industries,” said NPL director of programmes Robin Hart.

“Consumers and manufacturers at different stages of the supply chain must be confident that they get what is written on the tin. Introduction of metrology steps in the development and production chains will dramatically improve their efficiency and ensure that the government and business investment in graphene technology is used in the most effective way.”

Graphene is the world’s first 2D material and it has many early adopters. However, without standardisation it is difficult for industry to be assured of the quality and properties of the material, and for graphene to be used to its full potential.

While standardisation can normally take many years, the University of Manchester and NPL are seeking to speed up the process through the accurate metrology and characterisation of the material to improve the understanding of the properties of graphene and the ability to produce it in a reliable and repeatable way.

NGI business director James Baker said: “Industry leaders need to be confident in the material they are dealing with. By working with academics at the University of Manchester and at the National Graphene Institute, companies can be confident in approaching graphene applications with the best possible understanding through comprehensive standards , characterisation and testing.

“The metrology expertise based at NPL, paired with the world class academics, state of the art equipment and facilities at the University of Manchester and NGI allows for viable graphene-based products to come the marketplace sooner.”