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Printed Graphene Sensors

Abstract of the Offer

The graphene sensor technology is developed by an innovative SME based in Cambridge, UK. The sensor is very versatile and can be designed and configured to different uses and applications in structural health monitoring. It’s very thin and flexible, and can detect different mechanical forces, temperature, and certain chemical stimuli such as humidity. We are looking for end-users who can test and validate the sensor technology in their specific application, and who can provide a route to market for the chosen application.

Description

The printed sensor technology is based on the unique properties of graphene, and utilises the company proprietary inks and formulations. Changing the sensor environment results in changes of the sensor electrical properties, which are measured and analysed to provide information and make conclusions about the object or environment being monitored.

Due to the company expertise in material design and formulations, the printed sensor functionality can be modified and adjusted to meet specific requirements for sensitivity and integration.

To date, the sensor technology has been researched and tested in several specific applications:

  • Structural health monitoring of engineering structures made from composite materials during the cure process and during their service life
  • Monitoring and predicting the state-of-health and safety of lithium-ion batteries
  • Monitoring vital signs in healthcare, performance sports and training

Advantages and Innovations

The unique electronic properties of graphene and other 2D materials make it possible to design sensors which respond to changes in the environment very fast, and with high sensitivity. By tailoring the electronic properties of the 2D material via formulation design, it is possible to produce sensors which respond to specific stimuli in a controlled fashion, generating the required useful data and information which may not be possible to obtain with existing solutions.

Our sensor technology offers the benefits of:

  • thickness < 50 microns for printed sensor and wiring allows seamless integration in complex structures
  • possible to integrate during component manufacture or retrofitted at a later date
  • possible to embed within a composite structure during its manufacture to enable cure monitoring as well as structural health monitoring during service life
  • possible to use with flexible and stretchable substrates such as textiles and stretchable polymers
  • generate data in a digital from suitable for integration with AI and ML algorithms.

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