Upscaling novel microfluidisation for repeatable, low-cost creation of quality graphene ink

Advances in printed electronics are enabling innovation & progress for the Internet of Things (smart textiles, flexible sensors). Metal ink is dominant in the conductive ink market for printed electronics but expensive & requires high temperatures for processing. Graphene inks overcome price versus performance as they are low cost, lightweight, excellent conductors. The challenge remains how to produce repeatable batches at scale. This project aims to validate a pilot scale production of graphene ink from proven novel, repeatable, microfluidisation process at lab-scale. Inks produced to date show market leading sheet resistance, can be used in commercial printing processes at up to 25 times cheaper than metal alternatives. As production chamber size increases, the physics of the system alters (longer particle residency, travel time) delivering a challenge to repeating lab-scale outputs. Further research into novel feedstocks & improved outputs (larger flakes, lower sheet resistance, tailored viscosity) is to be investigated.