Andrew Strudwick | Graphene Engineering and Innovation Centre - University of Manchester: Can a traditional technique like screen printing be the key to prototyping next-gen graphene sensors?
00:06:34 - 00:08:19
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Summary of the clip:
Can a traditional technique like screen printing be the key to prototyping next-gen graphene sensors?
Screen printing serves as a highly robust and versatile platform for the rapid prototyping of functional electronic devices at the GEIC. Its reliability allows for the quick iteration of new designs and the testing of novel ink formulations, making it an ideal starting point for many development projects. This technique is used to move quickly through the design-build-test cycle, validating concepts before committing to more complex, high-volume manufacturing processes.
Using this method, the team has successfully developed a wide range of devices with graphene and other advanced material inks. Key applications include printed heaters and biosensors, but a particularly significant area is the development of mechanical sensors. These printed strain sensors are being designed for direct integration into high-performance materials like carbon fiber composites, enabling smart structures with embedded sensing capabilities.
The value of the screen printing platform extends beyond just graphene; it is a powerful tool for evaluating any advanced material-based ink. This capability allows the GEIC to test and optimize new conductive, resistive, or functional ink systems for partners. It provides a flexible and cost-effective base for exploring the potential of new materials in printed electronic applications.
In this short video, you can learn:
* Why screen printing is a robust method for rapid prototyping of printed electronics.
* Examples of functional devices made with graphene inks, including heaters and biosensors.
* The development of advanced strain sensors for integration into composite materials.
π **Clip Abstract** Discover how the GEIC uses screen printing as a robust and flexible method for rapid prototyping of functional devices. The clip highlights applications like printed heaters, biosensors, and advanced strain sensors for carbon fiber composites.
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#ScreenPrinting, #GrapheneSensors, #PrintedStrainSensors, #SmartComposites, #FlexibleElectronics, #AdditiveManufacturing
This is a highlight of the presentation:
Graphene and 2D Material Inks: Conductive, Optical and Beyond
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00:08:56 - 00:10:02
Can we de-risk the transition of novel 2D formulations to high-throughput roll-to-roll manufacturing without risking production line downtime?
Can we de-risk the transition of novel 2D formulations to high-throughput roll-to-roll manufacturing without risking production line downtime?
Transitioning a novel 2D material ink formulation from laboratory vial to high-volume production remains one of the largest bottlenecks in printed electronics. Industrial roll-to-roll coating lines are reluctant to allocate expensive machine time to unproven formulations, leaving a massive scaling gap for advanced material developers.
The Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre addresses this by utilizing a pilot-scale Ultima Baseline coater configured for flexographic, gravure, slot-die, and rotary screen printing. This intermediate platform allows researchers to evaluate fluid dynamics, drying profiles, and substrate interactions under realistic web tensions and shear rates.
By generating a robust parameter dataset at a pilot scale, innovators can present production facilities with proven run conditions. This systematic de-risking of ink viscosity, coating speed, and drying temperature reduces industrial adoption barriers and accelerates the commercialization of flexible electronics.
In this short video, you can learn:
* How pilot-scale slot-die and gravure printing bridge the gap between lab-scale ink formulation and volume manufacturing.
* The strategic importance of de-risking machine run-time on industrial roll-to-roll web presses.
* How to systematically validate novel substrates and 2D material binders under realistic shear environments.
π **Clip Abstract** This clip details how the GEIC leverages pilot-scale roll-to-roll coating technology to test and validate advanced 2D material formulations. By optimizing deposition techniques like slot-die and gravure on a pilot scale, they significantly de-risk the transition to commercial production lines.
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#RollToRollCoating, #SlotDieCoating, #2DMaterialInks, #PilotScaleValidation, #PrintedElectronics, #FlexibleElectronics
00:18:00 - 00:18:58
Why does graphene outperform other carbon-based additives in flexible printed electronics and composite materials?
Why does graphene outperform other carbon-based additives in flexible printed electronics and composite materials?
The choice of conductive carbon additives in printed inks determines how well a flexible electronic device will perform under cyclic mechanical stress. Graphene offers unique morphological advantages over zero-dimensional carbon blacks, maintaining superior electrical percolation pathways even under extreme bending.
While formulating custom inks from scratch is often unnecessary due to the availability of mature commercial formulations, selecting the right material morphology is critical. Graphene's two-dimensional structure allows flakes to slide and maintain contact during substrate flexing, preserving device conductivity where standard carbon structures would fracture.
Furthermore, combining different carbon nanomaterials yields powerful synergistic effects. Hybridizing two-dimensional graphene with one-dimensional carbon nanotubes creates a hierarchical network that significantly improves electrical conductivity and mechanical reinforcement in both printed electronics and advanced composite matrices.
In this short video, you can learn:
* The mechanical and electrical advantages of 2D graphene flakes compared to other carbon allotropes in flexible form factors.
* How to select commercial ink formulations tailored specifically to dynamic stress and bending requirements.
* The engineering principles behind hybridizing graphene with carbon nanotubes to optimize electrical percolation in composite systems.
π **Clip Abstract** This clip explains why graphene is the preferred additive for maintaining electrical conductivity in flexible and dynamic electronic applications. It also introduces the concept of hybrid carbon systems, demonstrating how pairing graphene with carbon nanotubes yields superior electrical and mechanical performance.
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#GrapheneConductiveInks, #ElectricalPercolation, #HierarchicalCarbonNetworks, #CyclicMechanicalStress, #PrintedElectronics, #FlexibleElectronics
00:13:47 - 00:14:28
How do you transition delicate benchtop 2D-material characterization into inline quality control for high-speed manufacturing?
How do you transition delicate benchtop 2D-material characterization into inline quality control for high-speed manufacturing?
To successfully transition printed 2D materials from low-volume prototyping to gigafactory scales, real-time metrology is indispensable. Traditional characterization methods are destructive, slow, or require contact, making them incompatible with rapid, continuous roll-to-roll printing speeds.
In collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory, researchers integrated a non-contact magnetic resonance cavity directly onto a roll-to-roll web coater. This integration enables the non-destructive measurement of electrical conductivity of printed graphene tracks as they pass through the system in real time.
This transition from stationary benchtop evaluation to continuous inline monitoring is a vital step forward for quality control. It allows immediate adjustment of deposition parameters, ultimately driving down defect rates and ensuring sheet-resistance uniformity across large-scale flexible substrates.
In this short video, you can learn:
* The integration of non-contact magnetic resonance cavities into continuous web coating equipment.
* How to perform inline, real-time electrical conductivity monitoring on moving graphene tracks.
* The role of standardizing body collaborations in shifting characterization from R&D into production-grade quality control.
π **Clip Abstract** This clip highlights a collaborative project between the GEIC and the National Physical Laboratory to implement inline quality control for printed graphene. By adapting a non-contact magnetic resonance sensor to a pilot coater, they demonstrate real-time electrical conductivity measurements on active production webs.
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#MagneticResonanceCavity, #InlineMetrology, #PrintedGraphene, #RollToRollProcessing, #PrintedElectronics, #FlexibleElectronics