The world’s first graphene ink has been developed: it can be 3D printed in any form, including aerogels, and is additive-free
A new discovery could unlock graphene’s enormous potential for industrial and environmental applications: A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo has overcome the difficulties of processing a nanomaterial discovered just twenty years ago to create the world’s first ink made entirely of graphene.
Eco-friendly inks designed for 3D printing can transfer the exceptional properties of graphene to equally promising structures such as aerogels. Graphene inks can print any shape, opening the way to complex architectures that could revolutionize medical applications and offer new solutions to climate and environmental problems.
Graphene, the material of the future
According to the famous image created by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, whose discovery of graphene was awarded the Nobel Prize in 2010, a sheet of graphene measuring one square meter can support the weight of a four-kilogram cat. Geim and Novoselov’s sheet weighs only 0.7 milligrams and is almost transparent: graphene is essentially a nanomaterial consisting of individual layers of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, forming a kind of honeycomb with exceptional technical characteristics.
According to a recent study , graphene is stronger than steel and as flexible as plastic, has a thermal conductivity second only to diamond, and may even be a stronger semiconductor than silicon.
However, graphene is usually produced in powder form, making it much more difficult to work with and therefore significantly limiting its potential practical applications, which range from consumer electronics to environmental mitigation strategies.
Scientists at the University of Waterloo recently overcame this hurdle by developing graphene nanosheets that can be dispersed in water while still being conductive. This allowed them to create the world’s first ink made entirely of graphene — an ink that can be 3D printed, is eco-friendly, and is immediately ready for mass production.
The first graphene ink for 3D printing
To produce ink that can be printed at room temperature , the researchers developed a two-step electrochemical process: intercalation, which involves inserting molecules into layered graphite, and exfoliation, a process that produces individual layers of graphite crystals.
The insert, specially developed by the scientists, is crucial because it enables continuous production of graphene nanosheets in water, making the new graphene ink immediately suitable for commercialization and large-scale production.
In addition to being extremely versatile, the new inks are also eco-friendly : as the scientists explain, they contain virtually no additives and do not require chemical solvents for printing. As Dr. Milad Kamkar , a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Waterloo, explained ,
“Forming graphite materials into complex geometries for advanced applications has long been a challenge that has limited their widespread use. With our method, we can 3D print graphene into any shape, allowing for the creation of complex graphite architectures. This discovery overcomes previous limitations and unlocks the full potential of graphite structures for advanced applications.”
Graphene, as a water-based functional ink , can be used for 3D printing to produce sensors for smart watches and fitness trackers or for glucose monitoring, as well as for printing lightweight components for the automotive industry and networks capable of shielding electromagnetic fields , for example for installation in hospital walls to protect patients and sensitive equipment.
Innovative solutions to industrial and environmental problems
As can be read in a study published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A , this innovative approach to producing graphene ink enables “ rapid, continuous, and large-scale production of lightweight and porous materials , avoiding the need for environmentally harmful reducing chemicals or high-temperature processes .” In addition, the researchers explain, eliminating the reduction step meets the needs of industries that require energy-efficient manufacturing processes and high production rates.
Graphene ink can also be used in batteries, printed electronics, and environmental remediation , such as cleaning up ocean oil spills due to its porous and super-absorbent structure, and capturing carbon dioxide dissipated into the atmosphere.
“Our modern technological advances come at the cost of new environmental challenges. To survive and cope with these challenges, we must develop new materials that are more efficient than those currently available,”
said Kamkar, who is also director of the Multiscale Materials Design Laboratory at Waterloo.
The researchers’ next steps will focus on environmental protection strategies and climate change mitigation. This research will focus on the use of graphene inks in advanced environmental remediation and carbon capture applications .
