Haydale Graphene Industries has been awarded GBP258,547 (around USD$312,930) of funding by Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency.
Haydale will use the funding to develop imaging techniques to characterize 2D materials, including graphene, to improve the compatibility and material selection processes. The Company explained that current methods for characterizing 2D materials for use in application are "time consuming." It noted that the program will have access to graphene in every format from raw material to finished product to develop new techniques not used before to image a range of nanomaterials.
"The project looks to simplify the process of materials selection to give companies working with nanomaterials a simple visual reference tool, which will save time and money and enhance production output for all industries," Haydale added.
The project started at the end of January and is expected to run for 42 months.
Haydale said it is one of ten partners in the consortium and will provide the project with unfunctionalized and HDPlas functionalized nanomaterial powder, masterbatch, laminate, ink and coated substrate samples.
Haydale UK Site Director, John-Mark Seymour, said: "Haydale will be instrumental in helping to develop imaging techniques never used before to characterize 2D materials for their use in a wide range of applications. We work with nanomaterials daily and have characterized over 250 types of graphene and so we are delighted to be sharing our expertise and working with the other consortium partners to deliver this important research project for our industry."