The world’s thinnest material (it is only one atom thick, one million times thinner than a human hair) is the base material of GRAPHERGIA: graphene. However, despite being thin, graphene is strong, flexible, transparent, conductive, light, selectively permeable and 2 dimensional (2D).
GRAPHERGIA, a 3.5-year Research and Innovation Project funded by the European Commission initiated in October 2023, is using graphene to power future energy and fight our current energy crisis. Innovators from 11 different partners from 6 European countries have joined forces to develop a novel and holistic approach enabling to process, deploy and integrate graphene-based materials and nanohybrids, directly into pertinent energy harvesting and storage devices. This will pave the way for scalable, cost-efficient, and climate-neutral production of two kinds of 2D material technologies:
- Smart e-textiles.
- Li-ion batteries.
GRAPHERGIA’s e-textiles for smart clothing
Can you imagine energy harvesting into our clothing? Weaving cutting-edge graphene tech into everyday life, GRAPHERGIA is set to power devices sustainably bridging the gap to the Internet of Things (IoT). Our initiative is unlocking the potential of laser-assisted graphene production to shape the future of all-in-one, multifunctional self-charging power textiles, seamlessly integrating advanced electronic systems into the fabric to create a more sustainable future for Europe.
In addition to providing batteryless solutions for wearables, this technology offers a user-centric interface to the IoT through wireless sensor signal transmission. So now you have to imagine clothes that connect you to the IoT with wireless signals, making you a walking, talking, tech-integrated individual.
GRAPHERGIA’s next-generation Li-ion batteries
GRAPHERGIA is also on the brink of defining the future of next-generation electrodes for Li-ion batteries, blending them with 2D materials, by leveraging the partners’ tech know-how and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)-protected technologies.
The outcome is a dry-electrode fabrication approach for producing advanced graphene-based electrodes for next gen LIB cells. A comprehensive approach is being employed, integrating 2D materials and process-oriented methodologies, utilizing cost-effective raw materials and scalable fabrication techniques to ensure economically viable and environmentally sustainable solutions for the production of energy harvesting and storage devices.
GRAPHERGIA’s environmental sustainable methodology
Starting from the present technology readiness level (TRL) of 3, the consortium delves into innovative concepts for 2D materials engineering and integration at TRL 5. This involves establishing adaptable pilot-scale methodologies for the development of smart textiles and LIB cells, all grounded in the principles of ecodesign. The GRAPHERGIA methodology is focused on:
- Environmental sustainability: Zero waste and elimination of harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process.
- Cost-efectiveness: Single-step process at ambient conditions; no requirements for special chambers or graphene post-treatment.
- Scalability: High-speed manufacturing; enabled by laser-powered in-situ graphene production and direct integration.
- Quality: A method that results in graphene quality in harmony with the ISO graphene standards.
- Adaptability: No graphene transfer to other substrates is required.
- Modularity: Graphene growth at ambient conditions enables a fully integrated process with on-line characterization tools for testing the quality of the graphene coating.
- Resourcefulness: Other precursor compounds (polymers, biomass-derived products) have been successfully transformed to high-quality graphene with minor irradiation modifications.
Our objectives are to reduce reliance on wet-chemistry methods and decrease the usage of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs). This way, our initiative combates the climate change by applying concepts and employing less energy-intensive processes for fabricating graphene electrodes. This reduces carbon emissions, minimizes waste, and decreases the reliance on batteries in specific applications of wearable devices.
GRAPHERGIA positions in the European context of material innovation
GRAPHERGIA is funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe Programme Cluster 4, “Digital Industry and Space.” It runs under the Graphene Flagship Initiative, an umbrella for 12 ongoing research and innovation projects moving forwards Europe’s strategic autonomy in technologies that rely on graphene and other 2D materials. Within the Graphene Flagship, GRAPHERGIA collaborates with the sister projects to especially leverage its market outreach, innovation management and standardisation.
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