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Ten years have now passed since the kick-off of the Graphene Flagship with European researchers joining forces in developing 2D materials-based processes, material and device models, devices and circuits exploration paving the way towards uptake of this material in various application fields. The 2D Experimental Pilot Line project offers the unique setting for research institutes and industry to jointly develop the essential building blocks for 2D material (2DM) deposition, post-processing and integration evaluation focusing on the domain of sensors, photonics and electronics. 

The applications for graphene use are broad, having altered the composition of electronics, energy storage and biomedical devices, sensors and composites and coatings over the past two decades. This is all due to its exceptional mechanical, electrical and thermal properties. However, what are the environmental impacts of its use and how does the cost limit its application?  

Properties and Applications of TMDCs, MXenes, h-BN and h-AlN -- In the realm of materials science, the discovery of graphene heralded a new era of exploration into two-dimensional materials (2DM). Since then, a plethora of novel 2D materials have emerged, each with unique properties and promising applications. Among these, transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), MXenes, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), and hexagonal aluminum nitride (h-AlN) have garnered significant attention for their diverse range of properties and potential applications. In this article we delve into the properties and explore the exciting applications of these remarkable materials.  

Register for the new non-profit association that will operate the upcoming European co-programmed partnership: Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe (IAM4EU).

Illuminating the world of 2D materials - In a realm where innovation thrives on the cutting edge, the quest for new materials with tailored properties propels industries forward at an unprecedented pace. Yet, amidst this surge of ingenuity, a critical challenge emerges: How do we ensure consistency, reliability and trust in these novel materials? 

Join us as a Graphene Week Ambassador and be recognized for your efforts in building an amazing community of 2D materials researchers!

The 19th edition of Graphene Week, to be held in Prague, Czech Republic 14-18 October 2024 will offer a rich programme as the Graphene Flagship celebrates its new projects and 20 years of 2D materials research and innovation since the isolation of graphene.

In the vast landscape of modern science and technology, graphene and two-dimensional materials (2DM) have emerged as game-changers, revolutionising industries with their remarkable properties and diverse applications. Among the myriad fields benefiting from their extraordinary characteristics, photonics stands out as one of the most promising domains. Photonics, the science and technology of generating, detecting and controlling photons, has found new avenues for innovation and advancement through the integration of graphene and 2D materials. In this article, we delve into the captivating realm of photonics and explore how graphene and 2D materials are reshaping its landscape, opening up unprecedented possibilities and paving the way for groundbreaking discoveries. 

Black Semiconductor, a spin-off and current partner of the Graphene Flagship, secures EUR 254.4 million in funding to launch new semiconductor technology in Europe.

The 2D Experimental Pilot Line (2D-EPL), now in its fourth and final year, is a €20 million project launched to address the challenges of upscaling 2D material production processes for the semiconductor industry. The project helps create a European ecosystem for the integration of 2D materials in applications like sensors, electronics and photonics.  

In 2013, the European Commission (EC) started its largest research and innovation project to date: the Graphene Flagship, with a budget of €1 billion. This project ran for ten years and provided funding to a consortium of approximately 170 academic and industrial partners spanning 22 countries and collaborating on the development of marketable products containing graphene and related 2D materials. The project and investment have been largely successful, with collaboration and longevity pinpointed as being the biggest benefits of the project, which generated €5.9 billion in economic impact and helped to create 81,622 jobs. Considering the success of the Graphene Flagship and the European Union’s aim to strengthen science and technology within its borders, the initiative will continue under the Horizon Europe programme. 

The last year was nothing like any of the preceeding years for the Graphene Flagship. We celebrated the first ten years of the project as we closed Core 3, and with it the single-project structure of the Flagship. The five-day final review and the broader assesment of the past decade meant a lot of hard work by many. In the end, I think we can proudly say that we have delivered beyond expectations and given European tax-payers extremely good value for their money. It was not a true ending, but nevertheless a feeling of departure for many in the community – the end of the Graphene Flagship as we knew it. 

First major milestone achieved in the EU GATEPOST project: All eight European project partners from industry and science meet to discuss the progress of the project and reflect on the development work of the last six months.

The Graphene Flagship is hosting a symposium from June 11 to 12 at the Town Hall Europe, Brussels, to celebrate the successes of its €20 million 2D Experimental Pilot Line (2D-EPL) project. Representing the first graphene foundry to integrate graphene and other 2D materials into semiconductor devices, the symposium will demonstrate the 2D-EPL’s progress in creating an ecosystem for 2D materials within electronics, photonics and biomedical devices.