Building Graphene Union & Network
Take the Lead of Graphene-based Manufacturing Industry
Transport, medicine, electronics, energy, defense, desalination - the range of industries where graphene is making an impact is substantial.
This is only the start. These are only the first steps. The potential of graphene is limited only by our imagination.
Biomedical
Graphene's unique properties allow for ground-breaking biomedical applications. Targeted drug delivery; improved brain penetration; DIY health-testing kits and 'smart' implants.
Medical science
Graphene based materials including pristine graphene sheets, few-layer graphene flakes, and graphene oxide offer a variety of unique, versatile and tunable properties that can be creatively utilised for biomedical applications.
Drug delivery
The lateral dimensions of these two dimensional (2D) materials can be adjusted between nanometres and millimetres, their thickness can be tuned from single to hundreds of monolayers, and their flexural rigidity can also be modulated. The flat surface can be easily functionalized enabling modification of the surface property (from hydrophobicity to hydrophilicity). This is unprecedented among other nanomaterials, offering enormous design capabilities as a platform for drug delivery and ultrasensitive biosensors.
Biomedical applications
Graphene applications in biomedicine are numerous and can be classified into several main areas: transport (delivery) systems, sensors, tissue engineering and biological agents (for example antimicrobials).
Graphene medical devices
At the University we are investigating all the potential and promising properties of graphene and 2D materials for developing innovative and revolutionary medical devices that could improve healthcare.
Graphene-based composite materials
Graphene is a material with a huge amount of outstanding qualities; strength, flexibility, lightweight and conductivity. One of the simplest and most effective ways of harnessing the potential of graphene is to combine it with existing products - so called composite materials. The impact of graphene-based composites is set to reverberate throughout countless industries, enhancing performance and increasing application possibilities. The University has developed a critical mass of researchers who are working across a huge variety of specialist areas and collaborating with commercial partners to unlock the benefits of graphene composites in different guises.
Rust-free future
Researchers at The University of Manchester have already shown the potential of a rust-free future. By combining graphene with paint, a unique graphene coating is formed which could signal the end of the deterioration of ships and cars through rust.
Weatherproofing and packaging
The same technique could also be applied to brick and stone, to weatherproof houses, or even to food packaging to stop the transfer of water and oxygen molecules which causes food to go off. Further benefits come from incorporating graphene-based composites in major components in industries such as construction, transport or aerospace. Due to ongoing research alongside commercial collaborators, scientists at The University of Manchester are moving toward a realistic future where potential is becoming reality.
Graphene for sport
Sporting goods are often the first to take up on new materials development which has already been the case with the successful graphene-enhanced tennis racket from Head. Graphene-based composites and coatings could be further involved in enhancing sports equipment in skiing, cycling, and even Formula 1 in the near future.
Lightest, strongest, safest, greenest
A graphene-based composite aircraft wing could drastically decrease weight, reduce the detrimental effects of lightning strike damage and increase fuel efficiency and range. This could result in the world's lightest, strongest, safest, greenest plane.
Electronics
Graphene has the potential to create the next-generation of electronics currently limited to sci-fi. Faster transistors; semiconductors; bendable phones and other electronics.
Graphene electronics
Graphene can be used as a coating to improve current touch screens for phones and tablets. It can also be used to make the circuitry for our computers, making them incredibly fast. These are just two examples of how graphene can enhance today's devices. Graphene can also spark the next-generation of electronics.
Wearable technology
Graphene could see a smart phone which you could wear on your wrist or a tablet you could roll up like a newspaper. Flexible, wearable electronics take advantage of graphene's mechanical properties as well as its conductivity. Indium-tin oxide is currently used for touch screens as it conducts well but it is brittle.
Graphene Transistors
Researchers at The University of Manchester have already created the world's smallest transistor using graphene. The smaller the size of the transistor, the better they perform within circuits. The fundamental challenge facing the electronics industry in the next 20 years is the further miniaturisation of technology.
Graphene Semiconductors
Graphene's unique properties of thinness and conductivity have led to global research into its applications as a semiconductor. At just one atom thick and with the ability to conduct electricity at room temperature, graphene semiconductors could replace existing technology for computer chips. Research has already shown that graphene chips are much faster than existing ones made from silicon.
Energy
Imagine fully charging a smartphone in seconds, or an electric car in minutes. That's the power of graphene.
Graphene in batteries
Graphene could dramatically increase the lifespan of a traditional lithium ion battery, meaning devices can be charged quicker - and hold more power for longer. Batteries could be so flexible and light that they could be stitched into clothing. Or into the body. For soldiers, who carry up to 16lbs of battery at one time, the impact of this could be huge. Carrying less weight, and using batteries that can be recharged by body heat or the sun would allow them to stay out in the field for longer.
Graphene supercapacitors
Graphene supercapacitors could provide massive amounts of power while using much less energy than conventional devices. Because they are light, they could also reduce the weight of cars or planes.
Storing wind and solar power
At The University of Manchester we're also investigating graphene's potential in grid applications and storing wind or solar power with our growing number of commercial partners.
Graphene membranes
Imagine clean drinking water for millions in developing countries. The development of graphene-based membranes at The University of Manchester brings that possibility closer.
Graphene filtration
Graphene oxide membranes are capable of forming a perfect barrier when dealing with liquids and gasses. They can effectively separate organic solvent from water and remove water from a gas mixture to an exceptional level. They have even been proved to stop helium, the hardest gas to block.
Potential applications
The simplicity of the technique and the sophistication of the membranes developed at The University of Manchester means the scope for potential applications is widening quickly, while each day of research brings with it new ideas.
We are currently looking at how graphene membranes can be used for water filtration, gas separation and desalination projects.
Graphene coatings
A single layer of atoms that can act as a perfect barrier has the potential to open up vast new markets and revolutionise countless industrial processes.
Using graphene coatings on food and pharmaceutical packaging can stop the transfer of water and oxygen, keeping food and perishable goods fresher for longer. The removal of harmful carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by power stations is not currently done on any scale, graphene membranes could change that.
Sensors
Graphene detects. Ultra-sensitive sensors made from graphene could detect minute dangerous particles helping to protect potentially dangerous environments.
Graphene sensors
Graphene is an ideal material for sensors. Every atom in graphene is exposed to its environment allowing it to sense changes in its surroundings. For chemical sensors, the goal is to be able to detect just one molecule of a potentially dangerous substance. Graphene now allows for the creation of micrometre-size sensors capable of detecting individual events on a molecular level.
Reducing food waste
Graphene oxide can be used to create 'smart' food packaging products. This could dramatically cut down on unnecessary food wastage and simultaneously help prevent illnesses. Packaging which has been coated with graphene has the ability to detect atmospheric changes caused by decaying food.
Crop protection
Graphene sensors could boost the effectiveness of monitoring vital crops in the agriculture industry. Farmers would be able to monitor the existence of any harmful gasses which could impact upon crop fields and take relevant action. As graphene sensors are so sensitive it is feasible that they could determine the ideal areas for growing certain crops depending on atmospheric conditions.
Biotechnology
Graphene and its derivatives possess some intriguing properties, which generates tremendous interests in various fields, including biomedicine. The biomedical applications of graphene-based nanomaterials have attracted great interests over the last decade, and several groups have started working on this field around the globe. Because of the excellent biocompatibility, solubility and selectivity, graphene and its derivatives have shown great potential as biosensing and bio-imaging materials.
GRAPHENE IN BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Molecules, biomolecules, quantum dots, polymers, and even nanoparticles could be loaded/conjugated onto graphene-based carriers. The loading could be achieved via covalent bonding or non-covalent interactions; e.g., hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic, π–π stacking, and electrostatic interactions.
GRAPHENE OXIDE IN DRUG AND GENE DELIVERY
Graphene and its derivatives are the latest materials to be designed for drug and gene delivery applications, including targeted delivery. The ability to load both water-soluble and insoluble active compounds, and attach different targeting moieties onto graphene oxide (GO) platelets could enable their use in targeted or non-targeted drug and gene delivery applications.
GRAPHENE FILMS AND GRAPHENE OXIDE IN TISSUE ENGINEERING
Tissue engineering relies on the design of biocompatible scaffolds with suitable physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. Graphene and its derivatives are of interest as scaffold materials due to their inherent elasticity, flexibility, high surface area, adaptability, and functionality. GO and rGO, in the form of thin films, were shown to be appropriate scaffolds for the growth of mammalian fibroblast cells since they display good biocompatibility as a surface coating material, without inducing notable detrimental effects while enhancing some cellular functions such as gene transfection and expression.
GRAPHENE IN BIOSENSORS, BIOELECTRONICS
Graphene′s unique electrochemical properties include a wide electrochemical window, low-charge transfer resistance, well-defined redox peaks, and rapid electron transfer kinetics. As a result, graphene could be very suitable as an electrode material in electrochemical biosensors. Another important feature required in optical biosensors is their ability to be functionalized. As previously mentioned, graphene and especially GO are very versatile materials for further functionalization.
Fashion and Smart Clothing
Graphene has proved to be a game-changer in wearable technology. As a result, many athletic companies and clothing brands recently started to work with graphene suppliers to produce graphene fabrics. Graphene fabrics can make sportswear and winter clothing such as a graphene jacket, a battery heated jacket, gloves, trousers, basics like shirts and socks, and various other winter garments. It is because graphene is an excellent thermal conductor due to its heat-preserving properties. Graphene fibre in the textile industry has gained popularity because its thermal properties revolutionize clothing. Graphene fiber acts as a filter between the environment and your skin. It expels heat in warm surroundings but preserves the heat in cold weather by evenly distributing body heat. Thus, it is perfect for all seasons. This is how graphene-enhanced fabrics naturally reinforce body temperature adjustment. These fabrics are also very comfortable and lightweight.
Build Our Network
SHAPE ACTUAL NETWORK
We have a long experience in this industry so we can start networking. First step is to develop a roadmap after we identify the needs of our goal. To achieve this goal, we will create milestones by prioritizing the needs of our network members. And we will develop attractive solution to appeal new companies and engineers to join.
MOBILE PLATFORM
The sole reason apps are receiving such astounding success is that they’re convenient to use and give users a chance to engage more with our services. For anyone who needs network in engineering field we need fast and easy application for our platform. Once consumers use our services and are satisfied with the same, they’re bound to use them regularly. Users just want access to good apps with the required features. Once our app offers them the same, any potential user can be converted into a loyal one. Furthermore, our app can generate new users with Word of Mouth publicity and digital marketing techniques.
CREATE BRAND AWARENESS
We will offer a personalized user experience for our clients and users. If they have special deals or sales for your top-rated customers, we can offer them a personalized feel about your services. Apart from this, we will utilize mobile app to get into a consumer’s life, and so it becomes the go-to thing for a customer. Therefore this solution completes the brand experience that we’re trying to provide. Building strong engineering network in first step, then we can expand it to common users to raise our brand reputation.
EXHIBITON & EVENT
Our customers and app users will have information about global exhibition and event. They can also participate in world exhibition through our business platform. Regarding these activities, we will raise fund and fee by FGN token 24/7 worldwide.
