July 29, 2014
UOW supporting easy access to materials and business innovation
University of Wollongong research and expertise in producing the new wonder material, graphene, is supporting business innovation through the licensing of a patent to startup venture, NanoCarbon.
Graphene consists of thin sheets of carbon that are extracted from raw graphite. It has extraordinary mechanical and electrical properties: it is stronger than diamond, more conductive than copper and more flexible than rubber.
Potential manufacturing applications for the new material range from more powerful, faster-charging batteries to dramatically improved data storage and far more efficient solar cells.
The UOW-headquartered ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) has developed a patented process for production of graphene that has been licensed to NanoCarbon, a NSW-based start up company that is developing commercial applications for graphene, through an Easy Access IP agreement.
The agreement will allow NanoCarbon to work with ACES and the Materials Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) to explore opportunities for using graphene in existing manufacturing lines.
Construction of a small-scale plant at UOW through investment from the ANFF has enabled scalable production of graphene in liquid solutions that can be ink-jet printed, spray coated, processed in roll-to-roll system, blended in composites and even 3D printed.
UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Judy Raper said the NanoCarbon agreement was another example of how Easy Access IP was providing a fast-track route for the transfer of UOW’s research knowledge to industry partners.
“This is the vehicle that enables industry to take advantage of our research strengths and develop products with reduced risks,” she said. “ACES and UOW have the research base and published results that show it is uniquely placed in the value chain to assist resources companies find new applications for their materials.”
The ACES-developed process for producing graphene was awarded a United States Patent and Trademark Office patent in January (2014), based on work by ACES researchers, whose 2008 paper in the journal Nature Nanotechnology has been cited more than 2,800 times.
NanoCarbon CEO Chris Gilbey said: “We believe that the time is fast approaching when graphene will be integrated into numerous manufacturing processes. We have great respect for the quality of the people and the relevance of the research undertaken by ACES and ANFF and anticipate working very closely with the team over the foreseeable future to achieve great commercial outcomes.”
Media contact: Grant Reynolds, UOW Media & PR Officer on +61 417 010 350 or grantr@uow.edu.au. Easy Access IP enquiries: Klaus Krauter, Senior Manager, Commercial Research and Commercialisation, on +61 428 584 383 or klausk@uow.edu.au. NanoCarbon: Chris Gilbey, NanoCarbon CEO, on +61 414 223 763 or chrisgilbey@nanocarbon.com.au.