2D Materials:A General Overview

A specialty and commodity chemical distributor operating out of Asia, Europe, America and the

Middle East.

We provide services along the supply chains: ranging from the procurement, product development

and individual mixing to logistics and recycling.

One of the top 10 distributors in Europe

Group Structure

Versarien 2D products

Two scalable and patented manufacturing processes

• Nanene - high quality few-layer graphene nano-platelets with low defect ratio and

large lateral dimensions - Mechanical Chemical Exfoliation

• Graphene inks - Micro-fluidisation

Also available

• Few Layer Boron Nitride

• Graphene oxide

• Reduced graphene oxide

Overview of Graphene….

• 2004: Isolated by Geim &

Novoselov

• 2010: Geim & Novoselov

awarded Nobel Prize or

Physics

• 2005-2014: 25,000 patents

registered representing

13,000 patent families

• Graphene patents by

number: 1st China; 2nd

Korea; 3rd US; 4th Japan; 5th

Taiwan. However, note that

the majority of China patents

cover only China.

GRAPHENE - BASIC PROPERTIES

Graphene shows a unique combination of properties which can be

exploited to enhance existing systems, or facilitate multi-functional

materials.

Properties include:

• High strength

• Flexibility

• Semi-Transparency

• Electrical conductivity in the X-Y plane

• Thermal conductivity

• Barrier to Gas Permeation

• Bio-Compatibility

The future…Graphene enabled…

Smart materials and textiles

Stronger and lighter materials e.g. carbon fibre reinforced plastics

Superior batteries and supercapacitors

Flexible electronics inc. sensors

Faster electrical components

Superior radio frequency antennas – novel format and construction

Optoelectronics Inc. Lasers

Anti-static polymer systems and coatings

Anti-corrosion coatings

Strength - Thermal - Electronics

POLYMER COMPOSITES

Addition of graphene can improve mechanical performance, electrical

and thermal conductivity of polymers and polymer composites

Major EU composites project (NANOMASTER) included partners LEGO,

Phillips Consumer Electronics and Rochling (auto components)

Applications include:

• Sports goods: HEAD tennis racquet has shown reduced weight and

improved stiffness and performance.

• Aerospace: Electrically conductive resin systems have shown potential

for anti-static composite systems, and also for electrical resistance

heating for anti-icing.

• Automotive: Composite suspension components, car body

composites, heater membranes, anti-static tyres

BARRIER

Graphene is a barrier to gas diffusion, including Helium

Applications include:

• Additives to improve surface coatings such as anti-rust and paints

for corrosion protection

• Moisture barrier paints for buildings

• Food packaging – barrier to water and oxygen to improve shelf life

FILTRATION

Graphene Oxide has selective barrier properties, applications

include:

• Water filtration membranes. Separation of organic solvent from

water

• Removal of water from a gas

• University of Manchester have developed a graphene –oxide

membrane with tunable pore sizes for desalination of sea water.

• Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN). University of Manchester

have also demonstrated that OSN can selectively remove other

species, such as separating organic solvents. Examples include

removing colour dye from methanol, molecules from organic

solvents for e.g. pharmaceuticals; filtering whiskey allowed

alcohol to pass through but filtered out the larger molecules which

produce the brown colouration.

ENERGY STORAGE

High surface area and electrical properties of graphene open up new

opportunities in batteries and supercapacitors

Applications include:

• Extending the life of Li-Ion batteries

• Reducing battery charge time

• Reducing battery size and weight – e.g. for wearable electronics

BATTERIES

Huawei announced results for graphene-assisted Li-ion batteries.

Main effect has been improved thermal management – e.g. ability to

operate battery at higher temperatures

• Charging 3,000mAh battery to 48% in five minutes

• Extended life – 70% capacity remaining after 2000 cycles at

60degC

• Mobile phone battery due to be launched Dec 2018

FUEL CELLS

• Modelling at Rice University USA indicates that graphene could

replace platinum in fuel cells

• Work at Berkeley Lab USA on Graphene-encapsulated

magnesium nanocrystals for hydrogen storage, overcomes

problems in metal hydrides by increased rate of absorption and

desorption

BIOMEDICAL

Graphene is being investigated for opportunities in medicine

Applications include:

• Targeted drug delivery

• Diagnostic kits and sensors e.g. blood sugar level kits

• Retinal prostheses (i.e. graphene contact lens)

ELECTRONICS & SENSORS

Graphene particulate can be formulated into inks for printing of

circuits and devices

Applications include:

• Printed conductive tracks and circuits

• Printed sensors

• Printed antennas e.g. RFID

● Graphene printed sensors, e.g. strain sensors

Graphene Inks

WEARABLE ELECTRONICS

Applications under development include:

• ‘Smart skin’ tattoos

• Battery-free healthcare & fitness monitoring

Credit: University of Manchester

PRINTED ELECTRONICS

• RFID printed graphene tags & tickets for security, tags for food

and consumer stores for real-time stock control & anti-theft

• Conductive printed graphene electrodes on e.g. paper

DISPLAYS

Image Credit: TU Delft/Graphene

• Work at TU Delft discovered interference effect between

graphene layers which produced colour changes under

loading. This effect is being developed into pixels for

colour displays

Thank you for your time!

Lewis Chard