Graphene has a black chapter in its Polish history. But that is not what we want to talk about in Lukasiewicz. We continue work on this material at Lukasiewicz – IMiF (Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics). It has been sold under the G-Flake® brand for more than a year.
G-Flake® is a recently established brand of materials related to flake graphene, produced in the Flake Graphene Research Group operating at Lukasiewicz – Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics. The Group has many years of experience in the manufacture, research and application of carbon nanomaterials, which is reflected in numerous patents and scientific publications in renowned journals.
Flaky and diverse
The graphene that our scientists are currently working on is fundamentally different from the graphene that was so popular about a few years ago. The only thing the two materials have in common is, in fact, the name. Flake graphene is formed by chemical processes that allow individual layers of graphite, the material from which flake graphene is formed, to be ‘detached’. Epitaxial graphene is usually created by depositing carbon atoms from the gas phase onto a suitably prepared substrate, such as copper or silicon carbide.
We are able to create various forms of such materials, including graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, graphene oxide paste and so-called graphene paper. Many years of intensive work and a systematic scientific approach have resulted in unique solutions and the ability to produce flakes that vary in size, shape, degree of oxidation and specific surface area, which translates into specific properties of the G-Flake® graphene materials, including electrical and thermal conductivity, surface wettability, osteoconductivity, biocidal properties, and anti-corrosion properties.
Versatile and full of benefits
The application of this technology is possible in a wide range of fields. It is the defence, medical and automotive industry. Our team is, currently, also working on using flake graphene for energy storage, or as barrier layers for use in hydrogen tanks.
Production costs at the current laboratory scale are not small, but we are constantly working on reducing them. The potential benefits for entrepreneurs and manufacturers are, however, enormous.
Products which graphene is added to significantly improve their physical and mechanical properties. Among other things, our team has developed varnishes and paints with graphene additives, which have very good anti-corrosion properties. A 40-fold improvement in corrosion protection compared to varnish without added graphene has been achieved. Another example is lubricants with improved frictional properties.
The product itself is not everything
In addition to its role as a manufacturer of carbon nanomaterials, our team of experts is ready to help customers find the material best suited to a specific task. This is the only way to achieve success, as it is not possible to produce one type of material that would suit various applications. Researchers at Łukasiewicz – IMiF are therefore able to ‘personalise’ the final product to the individual needs of the customer.
But for G-Flake to become a real hit, support – both financial and scientific – is essential. That is why we encourage all Lukasiewicz scientists to work together to push the boundaries of knowledge and commercial applications of flake graphene even further. We are also constantly looking for business partners for our solutions. Visit the G-Flake website.
