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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/K01658X/1
Title Graphene three-dimensional networks
Status Completed
Energy Categories Other Cross-Cutting Technologies or Research 35%;
Not Energy Related 50%;
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage) 15%;
Research Types Applied Research and Development 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials) 50%;
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 50%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Professor E Saiz Gutierrez
No email address given
Materials
Imperial College London
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 February 2013
End Date 31 January 2017
Duration 48 months
Total Grant Value £1,914,243
Industrial Sectors Electronics; Energy
Region London
Programme Manufacturing : Manufacturing
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Professor E Saiz Gutierrez , Materials, Imperial College London (99.994%)
  Other Investigator Professor M Shaffer , Chemistry, Imperial College London (0.001%)
Dr M Reece , Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London (0.001%)
Professor T Peijs , Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary, University of London (0.001%)
Dr C Mattevi , Materials, Imperial College London (0.001%)
Dr K Li , Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London (0.001%)
Professor A Bismarck , Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London (0.001%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , Thomas Swan and Co Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Kennametal Sintec Keramik UK Ltd (0.000%)
Project Contact , Morgan Crucible (0.000%)
Project Contact , DSM Dyneema B.V, The Netherlands (0.000%)
Project Contact , Graphenea S.A., Spain (0.000%)
Project Contact , LiqTech International A/S, Denmark (0.000%)
Project Contact , SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), Saudi Arabia (0.000%)
Project Contact , Repsol Sinopec Resources UK Ltd (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Graphene and its derivatives exhibit unprecedented combinations of properties: tuneable electrical and optical response, high intrinsic mechanical response, chemical versatility, tuneable permeability, extremely high surface area >3000m2/g... The incorporation of graphene in practical devices will open new technological opportunities in a wide number of technologies such as catalysis, supercapacitors, membranes and multifunctional polymer and ceramic composites. In order to combine optimum functional and mechanical properties, these devices will often have complex structures with characteristic features at multiple lengths scales from the nano to the macro level. For example, foams with open micro-scale porosity to allow gas access and nano-scale pores to enhance surface area, membranes that will combine ceramic supports with graphene layers of controlled permeability or multilayer structures with layer thickness ranging from micro to nanolevels. The scientific and engineering challenge is the development of manufacturing approaches to build these devices in a reliable and cost-effective manner.Wet-processing techniques based on the use of liquid particulate suspensions, or solutions have made very significant advances in the last years. They are reliable, robust, and efficient. Now they are using to build materials with increasing degrees of precision, down to nano-levels and are having an increasing impact in a wide range of technologies. With the advent of solution processable graphene, we strongly believe that there is an often overlooked opportunity to develop wet processing technologies to build graphene-based devices. However, the development of these techniques will depend on two key issues: establishing a reliable path for the large scale synthesis of powders with controlled size and chemistry and understanding the basic physicochemical parameters that determine the response of graphene suspensions.This project puts together a multidiscilplinary team with the objective to develop new wet-processing manufacturing approaches to build graphene-based 3D structures for selected technological applications. The project will cover basic scientific and engineering aspects such as powder synthesis and the basic analysis of the physicochemical parameters that control the response of colloidal suspensions of two dimensional materials. We plan to use a coordinated approach that by simultaneously developing a suite of processing approaches (from emulsification, 3D printing, layer-by-layer deposition, aerogels...) will be able to define and address the many common scientific and engineering issues and generate a synergistic effect that will push technological development. An essential part of our approach is the emphasis on specific technological applications (supercapacitors, membranes, electrochemical devices...). This emphasis will serve to focus the development of our manufacturing approaches towards specific goals, providing clear directionsfor structural manipulation and enhancing tremendously the technological impact of this project. By systematically analyzing the performance of our structures in these applications we will also define the key principles that should guide the design of graphene-based devices in order to optimize their functional and mechanical response.This project will break new ground and uncover new scientific principles and technologies that will have a lasting impact not only on the implementation of graphene but also for a whole new family of emergent two dimensional materials whose unique properties are poised to change the way we design and build devices for a wide range of fields in the upcoming years
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 18/03/13