Graphene’s 20: 20 seminal moments in 20 seconds
Thought leadership 15 October 2024
We’ve been talking a lot about the 20th anniversary of the isolation of graphene, and so the key moments along that wild journey have been on my mind. To celebrate that, although many to choose from, here are my 20 seminal moments.
This isn’t ranked in any order, but wow – 20 years gives you a good opportunity to look back, reflect and look forward to the next 20 years!
1. The isolation of graphene
The 2D journey had begun
It’s 2004, and Manchester’s own Andre Geim and Konstantin ‘Kostya’ Novoselov kick-start a voyage of discovery that will produce a range of breakthrough applications and help to power the future.
2. That Nobel Prize
Creating excitement across the academic communities
Six years later, and the importance of Andre and Kostya’s work is rewarded with a Nobel Prize in Physics. A reflection of the transformative effect their work will soon start to have.
3. National Graphene Institute (NGI) opens
Accelerating science and technology developments
A national facility and world-leading research facility build for breakthroughs. Bringing 1500m² of ISO class 5 and 6 cleanrooms that have the capacity to work with over 150 types of 2D materials, with the tools to fuel innovation, from microscopy to optics labs, and metrology to chemistry.
4. Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) opens
Making graphene work for industry
By opening the doors to GEIC, The University of Manchester established something unique is UK academia: a lab to market pipeline supported the whole research and innovation gauntlet, from technology readiness levels 1-3 in NGI to levels 4-7 at GEIC. This industry led, academic fed model means we can support companies to push limits, fast-track breakthroughs, and leap from the lab to the market.
5. Setting new research standards
Graphene’s potential to change the way we thing about advanced materials
At the time of writing, the paper ‘Electric Field Effect in Atomically Thin Carbon Films’ by Geim and Novoselov has been cited over 40,000 times. This makes it one of the most highly cited scientific papers of all time.
6. Citations
Showing the academic interest and rapid growth of the science and technology
Another influential paper, “The rise of graphene,” published in 2007, has more than 11,000 citations. In a 2021 list compiled by Clarivate, eight researchers from the NGI were among the top one percent by citations for their field.
7. Two-dimensional (2D) materials take off
Opening up a whole new world of material possibilities!
After graphene, the family of 2D materials grew significantly. We can anticipate that there are more than one thousand out there, and some, like transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and MXenes are experiencing rapid growth, sparking novel applications electronics, optoelectronics, and energy storage ‘…”
8. Graphene in everything
Making graphene work for industry
It shouldn’t be surprising that a material which can improve composite strength and wear resistance, heat management, noise dampening, low material weight, high electrical conductivity and microbial resistance, is useful for a multitude of things. There are now an estimated 50m products worldwide being used with graphene, with over 90 individual graphene products.
9. Ford leads the way
Affordably improving performance of the everyday
Every Ford made in the US (more than 1.8 million in 2023), contains graphene in more than ten under-the-hood components, including parts such as fuel rail covers, pump covers, and front engine covers, in vehicles like the Ford F-150 and Mustang. “not in expensive niche F1 but everyday SUV’s and more sustainable and light-weighting of structures”
10. Start-up success
Building a new graphene ecosystem and the start of Manchester as the new “graphene city”!
Manchester has seen 60 graphene start-ups emerge over in the past 10 years. In the last 12 months alone, a tenth of our staff have gone to work with many that we’ve supported – sharing our knowledge and expertise with the wider sector, building further partnerships, and refreshing new, exciting skills into our University teams.
11. Technology that tackling brain diseases
Evidence that graphene really can start to change the lives we live
In recent weeks we’ve seen a series of research projects begin could eventually lead to vital breakthroughs in the diagnoses and treatment ofs one of the world’s most devastating diseases.
12. A world first in energy storage
Huge potential to support the energy transition
Manchester spin-out HalioGEN Power has created a technology that has the potential to store energy and efficiently provide power without using critical raw materials, and have just secured an investment of €3 million for their lithium-free solution.
13. Making seawater drinkable
Supporting lives across the globe
Research from Manchester scientists has demonstrated the potential for graphene membranes to sieve common salts out of salty water and make it safe to drink. The findings could lead to affordable desalination technology for millions who struggle to access adequate clean water sources.
14. A plan for concrete
Helping decarbonise construction and using local solutions to innovate and build new cities
If concrete was a country, it would be in the top eight most CO2 emitting countries in the world. Adding graphene to concrete can reduce these emissions, by using less material without sacrificing strength. Graphene@Manchester is working with a number of partners around sustainable construction, such as Vector Homes, Concretene and Graphene Innovations Manchester and was recently awarded a contract to collaborate with four industry partners to do just that.”
15. Sir Richard Branson asks my advice
Global leaders see Manchester as the experts
Just as I was about to sit down for a well-earned Friday night takeaway, one of the best known entrepreneurs in our recent history calls me to discuss graphene lightweighting for aircraft. He later said: “The potential for graphene to solve enduring challenges within the aerospace sector presents real opportunities for the material to become disruptive, and a key enabler in future aircraft technology.”
16. Pioneering lithium extraction
Helping secure critical minerals and the supply chain
A patented filtration process forged by Watercycle Technologies (Manchester spin-out and Tier 2 partner of the GEIC), can selectively extract lithium from sub-surface waters (like those in the south west of the country) – something that could be vital for the UK’s Net Zero strategy, given lithium’s role in battery technologies.
17. Graphene in space
No limits to its applications
The development of sustainable space technology on Earth – including green construction material technology being designed for off-world habitats – could be the next vital step in our challenge to reduce carbon emissions. Read more about how graphene can play a key part in emerging space technologies right here.
18. Advances in Agri-tech
From space to food production of the future
An innovative technology that can reduce the use of fresh water in agriculture, developed by AEH Innovative Hydrogel (an agri-tech firm founded and led by Manchester alumnus Dr Beenish Siddique), could not only lessen the ‘food miles’ of countries like the UK by enabling them to grow a wider range of indigenous foods, but could also lead to better yields for farmers in climates where poor quality soils and limited rainfall cause huge challenges.
19. Sprinting to success
Improving performance and productivity while reducing waste and enhancing sustainability
The high performance of graphene-enhanced footwear might not at first seem as impactful as some of these other inventions, but a successful partnership between a university research group and an SME (Northern England-based outdoor sports brand inov-8), is a clear example of how cutting-edge technology can move rapidly from lab to market, and how graphene can impact on everyday products.
20. Next generation technologies
Partnerships and collaboration: the ‘Manchester Model’ going international
2004 wasn’t so much a discovery as it was the start of a movement, one that keeps on generating new ways to power the future. Another example this year – in a Manchester partnership with Abu Dhabi-based Khalifa University – was the graphene research that could transform next-generation technologies in hydrogen fuel cells, computing, and catalysis (find out more right here).