New collaboration aims to accelerate graphene commercialisation

A landmark partnership between the University of Manchester and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) could help to speed up the commercialisation of graphene.

The organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding to help bring the revolutionary material into practical usage by working to develop graphene metrology, characterisation and standards, with a view to establishing a joint centre of excellence.

Graphene is known as the world's first 2D material and possesses numerous properties that make it invaluable for engineering. Despite being only one atom thick, it possesses superior mechanical stiffness, strength and elasticity, electrical and thermal conductivity.

It is also optically active, chemically inert and impermeable to gases, making it a potential game-changer in the fields of optoelectronics, flexible electronics, bioelectric devices, energy storage and ultrafiltration.

The material has been shown to have numerous medical applications as well, so addressing the current gap in standardisation could be a life-saving move.

Robin Hart, director of programmes at NPL, said: "Manchester is widely regarded as the home of graphene research and development and by working with them… we can start to reap the benefits to industry and society that graphene can offer much sooner."