MECanical Ablation for GRAPHene production – MECAGRAPH

Graphene is the only example of "bi-dimensionnal crystal" : it is made of a layer of carbon from which the stacking constitutes the graphite in the tri-dimensional space. It has been isolated for the first time in 2004. Since, because of its exceptional properties (electrical conductivity, mechanical properties…) and its potential application in the nanotechnology area (nano-microelectronics), photovoltaic, polymer mechanical reinforcement…, researches (fundamental as well as applied) on such material have faced a real explosion worldwide.
In spite of the large number of proposed synthesis methods, the synthesis at high scale of such graphenes or/and FLG (Few Layer Graphene) has not yet been reached and many improvements have to be done to allow the extensive development of such a material in laboratories or factories. It is the reason why such material is one of the most expensive material and it is urgently to develop new methods to produce graphene in large quantities to decrease its price. For theses reasons cited above we have recently developed three new methods to produce graphene : in the last one yields higher than 20% (up to 60%) taking into account the weight of graphite in the precursor, result never obtained up to now in the literature. Furthermore, this technique is not energy incentive, is not polluting and can be easily scalable. Two patents have been recently applied and some of the partners have been two months ago the winners of the national “Emergence” award.
The aim of this project is to produce graphene and FLG by a simple and scalable method to allow its use by a large public, in areas such as transparent conducting polymers (solar energy), composites with high performances, catalysis… In this last area, its high specific surface area could allow a high dispersion of metals or oxides used constituting the active phase. At this time, no works are made in the catalysis and many efforts must be provided. The program of this project can be divided in three parts : (1) : optimization of the synthesis conditions, (2) advanced characterizations and (3) : applications in catalysis.
Last, FIST SA will have a special task to study two valorization ways : creation of a start up or patent licensing with an Industrial group. Indeed, the creation of a start up could allow rapid producing of large quantities of graphenes to test new application ways, start up which then could be bought out. The risk is the hesitancy of industrial to trust a young society to purchase and furnish a new material without any other source, risk which could be avoided by the licensing way.