A sample of graphene-infused rubber. , Photo Credit: AP
wCap Artificial Intelligence (AI) for software and quantum computing for computer, graphene is for content. These three emerging technologies will disrupt existing human-machine interfaces over the next few decades. While India is a leader in AI and a potential challenger in quantum computing, it needs to catch up in the field of graphene.
a wonderful material
Graphene is the world’s thinnest, strongest and most conductive material of both electricity and heat. It conducts electricity better than copper. It is 200 times stronger than steel but six times lighter. It is almost completely transparent as it absorbs only 2% of the light. It is impermeable to gases, even light gases such as hydrogen and helium. It has the potential to revolutionize electricity, conductivity, energy production, batteries, sensors and more. Furthermore, when added to other materials, graphene produces composite materials with dramatically altered properties, even in small amounts. Graphene composites are used in aerospace, automotive, sporting equipment, and construction. It is used for high-performance batteries and super-capacitors, touchscreens and conductive inks. Graphene-based sensors are used for environmental monitoring, healthcare and wearable devices. Graphene oxide membranes are used for water purification and desalination. Graphene based masks were made during covid.
Graphene is also important for defense and aerospace. Its exceptional strength makes it a promising material for armor and ballistic protection. Graphene has the ability to absorb and disperse electromagnetic waves, making it valuable for developing stealth coatings and materials that reduce radar signatures and electromagnetic interference. Graphene is extremely sensitive to environmental changes, making it an excellent candidate for sensing chemical and biological agents, explosives, radiation and other hazardous substances. In addition, graphene-based materials can also protect us from chemical and biological attacks. The improved energy storage and electronics properties make graphene attractive in defense and aerospace as well as civil and commercial applications.
Never has a single material had such an impact on so many areas. Materials define an era – the Stone Age, the Iron Age, the Plastic Age and the Silicon Age. There are reasons to believe that we are entering the graphene era. According to Grand View Research, the global graphene market size was valued at $175.9 million in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 46.6% between 2023 and 2030.
Although graphene was discovered in 2004, it has been difficult to mass-produce graphene of high grade. However, things are changing fast. According to one report, at least one graphene-enhanced product was launched every week in 2022. Now more than 300 companies are producing graphene or its derivatives.
Leading countries in graphene research are China, the US, the UK, Japan, South Korea, Russia and Singapore. Until 2012, the US dominated patent filings related to graphene. In 2018, China filed 218 patents, while other major countries combined filed 79. There were eight applications in India.
China and Brazil are the global leaders in the commercial production of graphene. In the Beijing Graphene Institute, established in 2018, several companies produce industrial-grade graphene products. India produces about one-twentieth that of China and one-third that of Brazil.
progress of india
But India’s progress has been better than many countries. The Center for Nano Science and Engineering at IISc Bangalore, along with KAS Tech, built a graphene-based system several years ago. Some start-ups and foreign subsidiaries have introduced graphene or graphene derivatives in India. In particular, Tata Steel has been successful in growing graphene (about 50 micrometres large domains) using atomic carbon extraction and removal from the steel surface. It has also combined graphene to recycle used plastic products into new ones. Innovation using graphene is going to be the place of India. It explores how graphene oxide-based wrappers loaded with preservatives can extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. IIT Roorkee-incubated Log 9 has patented a technology for graphene-based ultracapacitors, and IIT Kanpur-incubated RF Nanocomposites has developed EMI shielding and stealth technology using graphene-based nanotubes. But this stream needs to be converted into Dhar. A commendable step in this direction was the setting up of the India Innovation Center for Graphene in Kerala. It is being implemented by Digital University Kerala in partnership with Tata Steel and C-MET, Thrissur. The center needs to become the nodal point for promoting large scale innovation activity around graphene.
Governments have an important role to play. China declared graphene a priority in its 13th plan. Europe established the Graphene Flagship in 2013 with a budget of €1 billion. Can India not have a National Graphene Mission? A nodal ministry needs to be assigned this responsibility; Otherwise the subject will fall through the cracks. India needs to be a leader in graphene as we can experience a ‘winner takes the most’ situation here. Given the high cost-to-volume ratio for high-grade graphene, its production may be concentrated in a few locations in the world, as is the case with semiconductors. India missed the semiconductor bus in the mid-1990s. The time to step on the graphene pedal is now.
Ajay Kumar is former Defense Secretary and Distinguished Visiting Professor, IIT Kanpur