GRAPHENE is going to be the “next big thing” to revolutionise the wearables technology and boost the global manufacturing industry.
“This ‘wonder material’ has many potential uses. It has wide ranging applications from industrial engineering, intricate electrical and electronics products to consumer-based products, wearables and Internet of Things (IoT).
“And that is why we held a talk on it following its successful research and development (R&D) initiatives, entitled Graphene: The Wonder Material Revolutionising Wearable Tech,” MIMOS head of flexible electronics R&D lab Dr Lee Hing Wah told FocusM.
Graphene is a one-atom thick layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is commonly known as the “wonder material” due to its superior properties.
It is recognised as the thinnest compound known to date, harder than diamond and 200 times stronger than the strongest steel.
It is also one of the best heat and electrical conductors at room temperature, impermeable to gases while being transparent, highly flexible and even stretchable.
Flexible with multiple uses
Lee said that graphene offers a huge potential, enabling technology for future applications in multiple industries from wearables, healthcare, automotive, consumer-based products to advanced materials, IoT, devices and sensors.
He added that early adoptions of graphene-based derivatives may be a better option, as its usage provides a more flexible process to attain manufacturing and business sustainability.
“It can be commercially manufactured using two ways, either using the chemical vapour deposition (CVD) or liquid phase exfoliation (LPE) methods. The methods used will be determined by its application in the different types of industries.
“With that, graphene can be used in printed technology, wearables technology, flexible electronics applications and others, giving abundant opportunities for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to venture into new market segments,” Lee opined.
In the global league, the MIMOS official said that the European Union Graphene Flagship had provided a €1 bil budget to explore the use of graphene, for targeted sectors from 2012 to 2022.
Lee also said that graphene applications could also be used in housing development, machinery, automotive and other types of devices such as robotics and rubber-related products.
“We strongly believe graphene applications in the manufacturing sector will surge tremendously in the next two decades.
“That is why SMEs should seize opportunities by collaborating with MIMOS on graphene applications to further advance the sustainability of their businesses,” he added.- Dec 12, 2020
