The consortium brings together the leading European NMIs in structural and chemical characterisation of advanced materials and graphene in particular. The NMIs are complemented by key research institutes and companies that bring specific skills, instrumentation, knowledge and experience required to deliver the project.

 

NPL is the European leader in graphene characterisation and standardisation, investigating the complementary areas of structural and chemical characterisation for several years with a range of instrumentation including AFM, SEM, Raman spectroscopy and XPS. They are the only European institution leading the development of ISO graphene standards and are currently leading the development of 4 ISO/IEC standards in graphene. NPL lead the UK delegation to ISO TC229. NPL are currently working with companies from around the world, ranging from SMEs to international corporations, aiding in the measurement of their material and development of graphene-related products. NPL was also one of the founding members of the EU Graphene Flagship and leads the Validation Task of the Industrialisation WP.

 

BAM has a long-experience in research and development as well as in application of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Analytical Scanning Electron Microscopy. BAM is represented in all relevant national and international (pre-) standardisation, metrology and regulation organisations (DIN, ISO, VAMAS, CCQM, OECD). Both analytical methods are part of an accredited lab in compliance with ISO 17025. Furthermore, BAM develops and distributes (certified) reference materials. In the last few years, BAM has published several scientific studies in the field of functionalised graphene.

BREC Solutions Limited (BREC) is a leading consultancy in nanotechnology innovation. They operate as a international network of experts covering all possible sectors impacted by nanotechnology. They offer services in research and development, information tracking, technology scouting, standardisation, and regulation briefings. They have a unique specialisation in nanotechnology standardisation where they monitor all nanotechnology standards, contribute to and draft selected documents at ISO, IEC and CEN level on terminology, characterisation, material specifications and applications of graphene.

CNRS hosts one of the largest nanofabrication facilities in France. Its strong research activity in instrumentation establishes CNRS as a key international state-of-the-art player in the development of new advanced tools for nanotechnologies. The research topics of CNRS cover a broad range including material science, electronics, photonics, micro and nano-electromechanical systems and nano-fabrication processes. In this project, CNRS brings expertise in nanofabrication and development of specific substrate for the deposition and easy relocalisation of graphene and graphene oxide flakes.

Haydale Ltd (HAY) specialises in the surface functionalisation and characterisation of carbon materials, in particular graphene and graphite nanoplatelets. Haydale’s innovative patent protected plasma functionalisation process delivers surface functionalisation to otherwise inert or hydrophobic nanomaterials, enabling them to interact and disperse in a given matrix.

IMDEA has facilities of Confocal Raman Microscope with several lasers (475, 532, 633 and 785 nm) with particular expertise on graphene and 2D materials characterisation. Atomic Force Microscopy Lab: includes a JPK Nanowizard II for fluorescence and AFM. Nanotec Cervantes with jumping mode NT-MDT Ntgra Prima used for nanotribology and nano-manipulation. SEM (EVO-HD) with EDS (X-Flash-430) hosted in the latest generation clean room (200m2, ISO6&5) with specific knowledge on nanodevices and individual 2D flakes characterisation.

INRIM has expertise characterising 2D materials and nanostructured materials by Raman spectroscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. It can support the project in structural and chemical characterisation of graphene and related 2D materials (functionalised graphene and graphene oxide), by means of optical contrast microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Raman imaging and SEM. INRIM has experience in coordinating previous European project in fabrication and characterisation of nanosized materials (FP7 SETNanoMetro Project) and it is currently involved in VAMAS TWA 41 (Graphene and related 2D materials) Project 1 on Raman spectroscopy measurements of CVD graphene and VAMAS TWA 42 (Raman spectroscopy and microscopy) Project 3 – Lateral and axial resolution of Raman Microscope.

KIT combines the traditions of a renowned technical university and a major large-scale research institution. KIT assumes responsibility for contributing to the sustainable solution of grand challenges that society is facing. KIT’s research covers the complete range from fundamental research to close-to-industry, applied R&D, and from small research partnerships to long-term large-scale projects. Worldwide exchange of knowledge, large-scale international research projects, numerous global cooperative ventures, and cultural diversity characterise and enrich the life and work. The development of viable technologies and their use in industry and the society are one of the cornerstones of KIT’s activities. KIT is a partner of the Graphene Flagship and leads the “Standardization” task in WP19 of the Graphene Flagship.

LNE is the French Metrology Institute and a recognised testing laboratory. LNE is partner of the Graphene Flagship – Validation Service, involved in VAMAS TWA41, and expert at ISO TC229 and IEC TC113/WG8. Based on the comprehensive multidisciplinary capabilities of its LNE-Nanotech institute dedicated to metrology at the nanoscale, and on 12-year long experience in graphene research for demanding applications, LNE develops a specific metrology for graphene-based materials and products. It hosts all the necessary instruments to characterise a nano-object as defined by ISO TC229 and more specifically AFM and SEM that will be used for the dimensional measurements required in this project. The platform also hosts a metrological AFM. The team involved in the project has a strong experience in dimensional metrology of all nano-objects including graphene and GO flakes. LNE brings skills in sample preparation, in the development of accurate measurement methods and the assessment of uncertainty budget.

University of Manchester (UoM) is the home of graphene, where the two Nobel Laureates, Prof Sir Andre Geim and Prof Sir Konstantin Novoselov first isolated graphene in 2004. Since then it has become the world-leading institute in graphene research, with over 300 researchers, studying a range of real-world applications, such as membranes, energy storage, nanoscale electronics and composites. They are a founding member of the Graphene Flagship and have two dedicated Graphene Centres; the National Graphene Institute (NGI) and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), totalling over £120 million initial investment. These state-of-the-art facilities include 1,500 square metres of class 100 and 1000 cleanrooms, the world’s largest academic space dedicated to graphene research and unique scale-up capability. With over 80 industrial collaborators on graphene, UoM also has expertise across many disciplines from materials to biomedicine.
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