International. A team of researchers based at the University of Manchester has found a low-cost method of producing electronic products printed with graphene, which significantly accelerates and reduces the cost of conductive graphene inks.
Printed electronics offer a breakthrough in the penetration of information technology into everyday life. The possibility of printing electronic circuits will further promote the spread of Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
The development of printed conductive inks for electronic applications has grown rapidly, expanding applications in transistors, sensors, antenna RFID tags, and portable electronics.
Current conductive inks traditionally use metal nanoparticles for their high electrical conductivity. However, these materials can be expensive or easily rusted, making them far from ideal for low-cost IoT applications.
Published in Nature Communications, the team found that using a material called dihydrolevogucosenone known as Cyrene is not only non-toxic, but also environmentally friendly and sustainable, but can also provide higher concentrations and conductivity of graphene ink.
Professor Zhiurn Hu said: "This work demonstrates that printed graphene technology can be low-cost, sustainable and environmentally friendly for ubiquitous wireless connectivity in the IoT era, as well as to provide RF power for energy-efficient electronics."
Professor Sir Kostya Novoselov said: "Graphene is rapidly moving from research to the application domain. The development of production methods relevant to the end user in terms of their flexibility, cost and compatibility with existing technologies is extremely important. This work will ensure that the implementation of graphene in day-to-day products and technologies is even faster."
Kewen Pan, the lead author of the paper, said: "This is perhaps a significant step towards commercialising printed graphene technology. I think it would be an evolution in the printed electronics industry because the material is so economical, stable and low cost."
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), which participated in the measurements of this work, partnered with the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester to provide a materials characterization service to provide the missing link for the industrialization of graphene and 2D materials. They have also published a joint NPL and good practice guide that aims to address ambiguity around how to measure graphene characteristics.
Graphene has the potential to create the next generation of electronics currently limited to science fiction: faster transistors, semiconductors, flexible phones, and flexible portable electronics.
Data Source Provider: University of Manchester.
