Based at Technische Universität Dresden, Ali Shaygan Nia is a business developer for graphene-based coatings and composites for environmental applications such as air and water purification and anticorrosion coatings. Shaygan Nia has a PhD in polymer chemistry and more than six years’ experience developing graphene and 2D materials for composites and coatings. He also has experience on graphene-based product development and commercialisation by acting as application engineer at the Graphene Flagship's spin-off Sixonia Tech. Shaygan Nia now offers his thoughts on the current state of graphene in foam and coating applications.
Nathan Feddy is the business developer for composites applications for the Graphene Flagship. Feddy gained key experience in the financial and nanotechnology consultancy sectors prior to joining the team at The University of Manchester’s state-of-the-art Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC). He has worked with several high-profile companies to incorporate graphene into their composite materials/products, to provide multi-faceted performance improvements and additional enhancements. Feddy now offers his thoughts on the current state of graphene in composites applications.
Graphene Flagship partners the University of Bologna, Politecnico di Milano, CNR, NEST, Italcementi HeidelbergCement Group, the Israel Institute of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and the University of Cambridge have developed a graphene-titania photocatalyst that degrades up to 70% more atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NOx) than standard titania nanoparticles in tests on real pollutants.
Gloria Guidetti first worked as part of the Graphene Flagship as a PhD student at the University of Bologna, Italy. Since then she has taken a job as a Development Engineer at Tetra Pak, the world’s leading food processing and packaging solutions company, where she helped the company join the Graphene Flagship as an associate member.
Graphene composites could reduce reliance on critical raw materials for automotive, aerospace, and energy applications, as highlighted at a workshop co-hosted by EIT Raw Materials, Hub Innovation Trentino and the Graphene Flagship in Trento, Italy.
Natural spider silk has excellent mechanical properties. Researchers from the Graphene Flagship have found a way to boost the strength of spider’s silk using graphene-based materials, paving the way for a novel class of high-performance bionic composites.
Inspired by natural foams, researchers have developed graphene-containing composite foams by fermenting with yeast. The process gives the multifunctional composites unusual electrical and mechanical properties.
In a novel controllable chemical method, Flagship researchers have created hybrid nanomaterials that can be tailored to have programmable electronic and optical properties - ideal for designing new types of electronics with new functionalities.
Conductive inks based on graphene and layered materials are key for low-cost manufacturing of flexible electronics, novel energy solutions, composites and coatings. A new method for liquid-phase exfoliation of graphite paves the way for scalable production.
The Graphene Flagship’s exhibition stand at Composites Europe showcased several different prototypes of graphene technologies. Alongside Graphene Connect, this exhibition was a great opportunity for the Graphene Flagship to promote engagement from industry all along the value chain.