$2.6 million to develop advanced graphene materials for industry

Friday, 6 May 2016

The University of Adelaide will take a lead national role in graphene-based advanced materials, with research and development that will benefit a range of industries and significantly boost South Australia's and the nation's innovation agendas.

The University has today been awarded $2.6 million in federal funding to establish the Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation. The funding announcement included an additional $2.6 million for eight industry and government-linked projects, bringing the total funding announced for the University of Adelaide today to almost $5.3 million.

In simple terms, graphene is a single layer of carbon that holds unrivalled material properties. The thinnest, strongest (100 times stronger than the strongest steel) and lightest material known, graphene also has the highest surface area – one gram can cover the size of a football oval – and the best conductive and thermal properties than any other material, which makes it particularly attractive for use in electronics and energy storage. It is also stretchable, flexible and so far appears non-toxic for medical use.

"Never has a material exhibited more potential to change the industrial world than graphene," says the University of Adelaide's Professor Dusan Losic, Director of the new ARC Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation, and ARC Future Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering.

"Our new national research hub will develop advanced materials, provide fit-for-purpose products and innovative solutions to a range of industries, such as advanced manufacturing, mining and minerals technology and services, medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, and defence.

"The aim is that our research will transform industry and support Australian businesses to embrace cutting-edge innovation and technologies that deliver high-value returns," Professor Losic says.

The University of Adelaide will lead the new ARC Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation, with the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the University of South Australia all participating as collaborative partners in the program.

Other national and international collaborators include industry and research leaders from Australia, China, the US, UK, France and Spain, spanning mining and minerals, steel manufacturing, defence, and nanotechnology.

The University's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Mike Brooks, says: "This is an exciting announcement for the University of Adelaide, which continues to demonstrate its leadership in both the national and state innovation agendas.

"This new ARC Research Hub brings the number of nationally funded industry transformation hubs at the University of Adelaide to three, with graphene joining other national hubs in copper-uranium and wheat.

"The hubs will deliver major economic and scientific benefits to our nation," Professor Brooks says.

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