Morgan Advanced Materials, a global materials engineering company, has signed a new joint development deal with The University of Manchester, a renowned institute specializing in applied and fundamental graphene research.
The aim of this joint venture is to improve the possibilities of bringing the wonder material, graphene, to the commercial market.
Graphene is an allotrope of carbon and was initially isolated at The University of Manchester for which it received two Nobel Prizes. Measuring just one-atom thick, graphene is the thinnest material in the world. It is also a powerful conductor, chemically inert, lightweight and exhibits a large surface area.
In this new joint venture, Morgan will collaborate with leading graphene researchers at the University, bringing its decades of experience in carbon processing. The project will be a comprehensive study on graphene, with a special focus on understanding the association between materials science and graphene’s manufacturing process.
Graphene: Made in Manchester
In early 2010, Morgan worked with The University of Manchester on several Government-funded projects and this new graphene development deal marks the next phase of this association.
With approximately 200 graphene researchers, the University of Manchester is set to open the National Graphene Institute in early 2015. This institute has been jointly funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Dr Mike Murray, CTO of Morgan Advanced Materials, stated that the company has extensive experience in carbon-based materials and will deploy its material scientists, who will be working closely with the academic team to understand the development process and properties of graphene.