A group of researchers at Linköping University are now marketing their method of producing graphene. There is great interest in the Nobel Prize-winning material, which is suitable for things such as high-frequency electronics.
Graphene manufactured at Linköping leads the world in quality, and researchers have been supplying other research teams with material for several years. The demand is now so great that the researchers have formed a company, Graphensic AB.
“As part of research, we deliver material to several projects, both in Sweden and throughout Europe. This strengthened our opinion that there is now a commercial market for our material,” says Professor Rositza Yakimova (pictured), who leads the research group.
Graphene consists of a single layer of carbon atoms. Yakimova’s group starts with the semiconductor silicon carbide, which is heated to a very high temperature. Their success lies in understanding how silicon and carbon act on the surface, and how a heating process that controls this surface can be implemented. The process is under application for a patent.
“We’ve already transferred one manufacturing technology for the material for a white LED, which is being industrialised in Japan, and now we’re initiating the industrialisation of the graphene method,” says Mikael Syväjärvi at Graphensic AB.
The hope is that Swedish graphene research and its graphene industry will get a breakthrough owing to billions in investments in Europe. However taking the step from research to commercialisation requires help.
“Alongside InnovationskontorEtt at Linköping University, we’ve developed a strategy for how to grow with the market and build our Swedish company further to deliver the material internationally. There aren’t any applications on the market yet, but the material is needed to develop them,” Yakimova says.
Graphensic AB was established by Rositza Yakimova, Mikael Syväjärvi, and Tihomir Iakimov, and is supported by the LEAD business incubator. The company has its headquarters in Linköping, and uses equipment and offices at Linköping University .
