Standing on the consortium’s current activities at TRL 3 or 4, GRAPHERGIA aims to explore pioneering concepts in 2D materials engineering and integration targeting TRL 5 or above. This involves establishing adaptable pilot-scale methodologies for the development of smart textiles and LIB cells, all grounded in the principles of ecodesign. The laser-assisted process employed within GRAPHERGIA offers several distinct benefits, making it significantly relevant for industrial applications.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Zero waste and elimination of harmful chemicals in the manufacturing process.

Cost-effectiveness

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

Our method 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.

Central to the GRAPHERGIA methodology is:

The establishment of reliable methods utilizing industrial-type lasers for the synthesis and processing of 2D carbon-based materials.
This approach is strategically designed to:

  • Reduce reliance on wet-chemistry methods.
  • Decrease the usage of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs).

To meet the ambitious goals set by GRAPHERGIA, it is imperative to address a number of challenges associated with 2D materials, particularly in the areas of energy harvesting and storage. Achieving this will empower the consortium to develop innovative products with significant potential for market adoption.

GRAPHERGIA aims to tackle the following key challenges, among others:

Challenge #1

To overcome issues related to ink formulations, i.e. low dispersibility in water and low conductivity of graphene-coated textiles.

Ambition: to achieve a reliable method for “green” and large-scale production of graphene-coated textiles and other flexible substrates with a focus on minimizing the number of process steps involved.

Challenge #2

To devise an innovative power management circuit of textile-embedded Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs).

Ambition: to attain a radically novel power management system that effectively converts the irregular voltage spikes generated by textile TENGs into a form that is readily compatible with electronic devices or energy storage systems.

Challenge #3

To develop next generation LIB electrodes based on graphene nanohybrids, capable of attaining larger energy density while also ensuring extended cycling lifetimes.

Ambition: to achieve a “dry” production method for LIB electrodes that aligns with the demands of Industry 4.0.