GOV.UK
Graphene - the world's first 2D material
Derived from Graphite, Graphene is the world’s first 2D material.
Just a single atom deep and super flexible
Over 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair; it’s just a single atom deep.
It’s super flexible, incredibly light and very conductive.
Graphene mixes well with other materials
It can be used in different applications as a single layer or as a stack of layers and it can also be mixed with other materials and liquids.
In short, it’s the material of the future and opportunities for its use are potentially enormous.
What is the economic potential for Graphene?
Some experts say the global market for Graphene-based products could be worth £500m by 2020.
Graphene already features in a range of industries
It’s already being used in wearable tech, tennis rackets and lightbulbs, but more significantly it’s being developed for use in cars, aircrafts, buildings and energy storage.
Strong, light and flexible, it could dramatically increase efficiency and new markets will open and existing processes will be revolutionised.
The UK is a leading figure in Graphene
Its unique structure means there are possibilities for an enormous impact on water purification processes.
Graphene’s electrical and thermal properties could be huge for the electronics market and it could have multiple uses across healthcare, sport and defence.
And the great thing is, the UK is a leading figure in the development of Graphene.
You can follow Innovate UK on:
- Innovate UK Twitter @innovateuk
- For more Innovate UK videos subscribe to our YouTube channel here
- Sign up for email notifications on funding, connections & support opportunities
- Follow Innovate UK on Facebook
- Connect with Innovate UK on LinkedIn
5 comments
Comment by J Mike Bushy owner of CKCB Ltd posted on
I first knitted Carbon Fiber in the 80s. I first came across Carbon Fibre that is not only fire poof it also is Thermal Property's so if you look at the problems at the Grenville Block, to improve the thermal property's if you added the Shoddy as a brace and then use the Carbon Fibre /Zine covering
It is my amim to use this material as the braces of my battery to obtain a larger wattage for battery's that could be portable or moveable on a truck, and could be use as a Power pack to hold the power and can be moveable and away from charge points
My telephone Number is 07887922191
Comment by peterwilson posted on
Thank you. Please take a look at our competitions to see if any of them are suitable https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search
Comment by Malcolm Banks posted on
How about body armour ? I am involved in developing a light weight flexible body armour for the troops. Its been fired at and the results look good.
Productions is a wet mould system without vacuum bag, or the autoclaive.
We set and make our own tooling for trials and small runs, and we produce 3 dimentional protatypes.
May stir your interest. Malc
Comment by peterwilson posted on
Good to hear. We do refer to military applications in our video.
Please take a look at our latest funding competitions to see if any of them are suitable.
https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search
Comment by Lien Ngo posted on
Hi Mike, Malcolm.
In addition to Pete's links to our competitions, it might also be useful to you to join the Knowledge Transfer Partnership's special interest group in graphene and 2D materials: https://ktn-uk.co.uk/interests/graphene-and-other-2D-materials
They'll be able to keep you up to date on networking opportunities, competitions and other events to help you move your ideas forward.