Enabling Materials
Synthesis and production of perfect layered materials
The isolation of graphene triggered the interest in many other layered materials. The Enabling Materials Work Package studies them and investigates new optimised manufacturing methods. The solutions developed within the Graphene Flagship enable a variety of applications, such as sensors, batteries, and (opto)electronics.
This year’s progress
One promising layered material is molybdenum disulfide, which has extraordinary electronic properties. Our work package has developed new production methods to grow high-quality molybdenum disulfide directly onto sapphire wafers – later used to create reprogrammable logic circuits and other electronic devices. We also designed efficient methods to manufacture layers of tin phosphide (SnP3), ideal for boosting the capacity of lithium-ion batteries. Thanks to liquid-exfoliated tin phosphide sheets, the Graphene Flagship created batteries with record-breaking energy densities.
The Enabling Materials Work Package also combines different layered compounds, like ingredients in a sandwich, to yield unprecedented properties and applications. For example, encapsulating graphene into slices of hexagonal boron nitride creates samples with excellent electronic properties, easily manufactured in large scales using methods like chemical vapour deposition.
Our fundamental approach allows us to push the boundaries of layered materials and yield ground-breaking discoveries. In 2021, we pioneered the synthesis of nanographene spin chains – mono-dimensional materials that use hydrocarbon triangulene as building blocks. We also functionalised graphene with small peptides that specifically recognise HCV – the virus behind hepatitis C. The materials developed by the Graphene Flagship feature high tuneability beyond this type of sensors – other applications include the detection of different biomarkers and antiviral coatings, key in the fight against pathogens like SARS-CoV-2.
Now, the biggest challenge ahead is the large-scale synthesis of new layered materials, ideally without any defects. Our goal is perfection – however this is a major task that will still require years of research and innovation. Beyond this, the Enabling Materials Work Package will keep exploring the fundamental properties of novel layered materials, as well as designing new characterisation methodologies.
We want to keep enlarging the catalogue of layered materials, fully understand their properties and develop more innovative applications.
Upcoming Challenges
We want to expand the catalogue of layered materials. Our Work Package will keep focusing on the characterisation and functionalisation of graphene and related materials, to better understand their properties and develop innovative applications. One of our major challenges is the large-scale synthesis of materials without defects, which will require huge efforts over the next few years. Additionally, the exploration of new physics – such as topologically protected states – are sure to lead to fascinating effects and outcomes.
Latest Articles

Graphene Flagship student receives IUPAC-Solvay Award for Young Chemists

Graphene composites found safe to use
Graphene Flagship researchers discovered reduced graphene oxide particles released from plastic composites after abrasion induce negligible health effects in safety analyses

Beyond graphene: antimonene and germanium nanolayers
Graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides are the most common examples of layered materials, but there is a world of other possibilities that have not been fully exploited: for example, antimony and germanium nanolayers. The FLAG-ERA 2D-SbGe project explores layered materials “off the beaten track”.

Light bends electrons through graphene
Graphene Flagship researchers from ICFO in Barcelona, in collaboration with teams in Columbia University, US, NTU, Singapore and NIMS, Japan, have reported the first use of light to bend of electrons in bilayer graphene.

Graphene Flagship pioneers two new IEC standards to characterise graphene
The Graphene Flagship Standardisation Committee pioneered the creation of two new IEC standards in the characterisation of graphene, fundamental to accelerate technology transfer. The new specifications will promote the adoption of graphene and layered materials within key European industrial sectors.

2D materials for next generation computing
In a compact comment published in Nature Communications, Graphene Flagship and 2D-EPL researchers outline the most promising fields of applications of two-dimensional (2D) materials, as well as their remaining challenges towards the appearance of high-tech products.