Project: Development of an eco-friendly conductive inkjet ink based on graphene to replace metallic conductive inks
The aim of GRAPHENJET is to develop an eco-friendly conductive inkjet ink based on graphene for Printed Electronics applications, to replace the more expensive and less stable metal based inks, and to reduce the environmental impact (eliminating metal nanoparticles and reducing VOCs emissions) of the conductive inks used today._x000D_After the Nobel Prize to Geim and Novoselov, Graphene has become the most important material in recent years due to its unique properties and there is a new phase of graphene research focused on applications and manufacturing processes. Graphene has characteristics that make it interesting for industrial applications, such as: electrical conductivity, transparency, flexibility, mechanical strength and environmental stability. These properties make graphene a promising platform for multiple products: from flexible and transparent electronics, to high performance computing , composites, photonics, conductive inks , light-emitting devices, touch screens, etc . However, large-scale cost-effective production methods are required, keeping in mind the need of a balance between ease of fabrication and quality. _x000D_Graphene nanoplatelets are a promising material for coatings applications with new functionalities and/or improved properties such as functional paints and varnishes or conductive inks. However making complex formulations or just adding a functional material to a formulation often creates incompatibility or dispersion problems. Chemical reactivity of the various ingredients or surface energy and polarity differences can make it difficult or even impossible to add a certain material to a certain formulation. Further, surfactants and other additives can reduce the conductivity properties of the graphene based ink._x000D_There is a substantial market, the printed electronics market, that needs an alternative conductive ink that is cheaper, more stable and with less environmental impact than the current ones based on metals. A graphene based ink could be a solution, but graphene has to be easy to disperse in the inks in order to minimize mixing times, increase stability of the formulation and increase its efficiency and conductivity. A functionalized graphene or graphene/surfactant mixture should yield a type of dispersion compatible with most formulations without affecting its conductive properties. The inkjet inks obtained by the dispersion of this treated graphene should have similar conductive properties in comparison with the metal based conductive inkjet inks while being cheaper and less harmful to the environment. _x000D_The aim of GRAPHENJET is for a graphene-based ink production method that can easily be scaled up and that will be industrially and economically interesting. By developing a graphene based dispersion with the correct surface energy we believe that formulation of the inkjet inks will be easier and cheaper than when metals are used. The particle size of the graphene should be less than a micron for the inkjet ink to be printed without nozzle clogging._x000D_After the preparation of the graphene, a second step using ultrasonication will be used in order to obtain a stable dispersion in an appropriate solvent. The obtained ink should be compatible with a number of different industrial inkjet systems so it must fulfill specific requirements in terms of surface tension, density, particle size and viscosity._x000D_Conductive inks are used in many printed electronics applications ranging from printed circuits to organic electronics application. Thus, the modification and dispersion of the graphene will be directly useful for Intrinsiq Materials Ltd (IML) and Viva Innova Development (Viva Innova in this project) and new functional coatings, such as paints and coatings, will be useful for Graphene-tech (GPA) and Sampas Nano (SNANO). Further, the stable and homogeneous dispersion of the graphene will also be interesting for parties outside this consortium such as the nanocomposites reinforced polymers industries._x000D_The consortium consists of 4 R&D SMEs and 1 research institute. One P, GPA, produces graphene, while SNANO are experts in nanoparticles. IML will use the modified graphene in its formulations; to fabricate an inkjet ink that will become available on the consumer market, while Viva Innova will develop a printable electronic device (a transistor and a resistor) based on graphene as an alternative to those based on metal to commercialize it._x000D_The research institute, AIDO, will perform the CO part of the physical and chemical analysis and will assist in graphene dispersion, as well as ink formulation. The four SMEs will have a direct economic benefit when the project goals are reached._x000D_References_x000D_1-F. Bonaccorso, A. Lombardo; Materials Today (2012) 15, 564_x000D_2-Torrisi, et al., ACS Nano, (2012) 6, 2992_x000D_3-Geim, Novoselov, Nature Mater (2007) 6, 183_x000D_
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Acronym
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GRAPHENJET
(Reference Number: 8374)
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Duration
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01/01/2014 - 30/06/2016
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Project Topic
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GRAPHENJET will develop an eco-friendly conductive inkjet ink based on graphene for Printed Electronics applications ranging from printed circuits to organic electronics application, replacing expensive and less stable metal based inks
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Network
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Eurostars
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Call
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Eurostars Cut-Off 10
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Project partner
