Graphene 3D printing: introduction and market status
3D printing (or additive manufacturing) refers to a process in which a 3D printer is used for stacking layers of material under computer control, following a 3D model (or other electronic data source), resulting in a printed three-dimensional object.
Various applications for 3D printing include design visualization and prototyping, metal casting, architecture, education, healthcare, entertainment and more. As 3D printing technology continues to evolve and develop, researchers imply possible biotechnological uses like bio-printing and computer-aided tissue engineering as well as retail manufacturing of custom end products which might change the face of commerce.
A large number of 3D printing processes exist nowadays, differing mainly in their methods of layering and the materials that are used. Some methods melt or soften material to produce layers while others use liquid materials or thin layers of material that are cut to shape and joined together. 3D printing materials are varied, and include Thermoplastics, HDPE, Rubber, edible materials, clay, metal alloy, and more. New technologies, such as infusing carbon fibers into plastics, allow for a stronger, lighter material.
Graphene, a single-atomic layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice, is repeatedly dubbed a "wonder material" due to its immense array of uncanny properties like extraordinary conductivity, flexibility and transparency.
Graphene in 3D printing materials
Graphene-enhanced nanocomposite materials improve on the traditional materials used in 3D printing, such as thermoplastics, resins and inks. Graphene nanoplatelets or flakes mixed into these base materials can make the resulting composite mechanically stronger, and improve its thermal and electrical conductivity, without requiring a change to the printer hardware itself. This makes graphene attractive as an additive rather than a replacement material: a small loading of graphene can turn an otherwise non-functional, purely structural print material into one with genuine electrical or thermal properties.
Graphene is incorporated into 3D printing feedstocks in a few different forms, matched to different printing methods. Graphene-enhanced filaments (typically graphene mixed into a base thermoplastic like PLA or ABS) are used in Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), the most common and accessible 3D printing method, and are commercially available from multiple specialty material suppliers today. Graphene-based inks and pastes are used in direct-ink-writing and related techniques to print fine, functional structures, including flexible electronics and biomedical scaffolds. Graphene powders are used in powder-bed and composite printing processes, including large-format printing of fiber-reinforced structural parts.
Applications
The main draw of graphene-enhanced 3D printing materials is turning a print into more than a static shape. Conductive graphene filaments and inks allow printed parts to also function as sensors, antennas, or simple circuit elements, letting designers embed electronics directly into a 3D printed object rather than adding them afterward. This has made graphene composites of particular interest for rapid prototyping of functional electronics and for capacitive touch or sensing surfaces.
Energy storage is another active application area: researchers and companies have explored 3D printing batteries and battery components using graphene-based materials, aiming for cells that can be shaped to fit a specific device rather than constrained to standard formats.
In biomedical research, graphene's conductivity has made it a material of interest for 3D-printed and bioprinted scaffolds intended to support the growth of electrically active tissue, such as nerve tissue, alongside more conventional biocompatible polymers.
At the larger end of the scale, graphene and other carbon-based reinforcements have been explored in large-format 3D printing of structural composites, including fiberglass- or resin-based building components and lightweight automotive and aerospace parts, where the appeal is a stronger, lighter printed structure rather than added functionality.
The field traces back to pioneering work in the mid-2010s, when early movers began commercializing the first graphene-enhanced FFF filaments and demonstrating graphene-based inks and composite structures; several of those original companies are no longer active today, but the materials and techniques they pioneered have continued to develop, with graphene-enhanced filaments, inks and composites now available from a range of specialty material suppliers.
Lyten's graphene-enhanced filament to be integrated into Modovolo's transportable 3D printing platform
Lyten, which is known for its battery work but also applies its 3D Graphene platform to composites and printing materials, has partnered with US 3D printer manufacturer Modovolo to integrate its graphene-enhanced PA1205 filament into the BFP, a modular, transportable large-format 3D printing platform built for aviation, industrial, motorsports and defense applications. Both companies frame the combination as a way to support domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.
Modovolo developed the BFP after struggling to find a US-built 3D printer capable of producing aerospace-grade components quickly and affordably for its own drone program. The result is a containerized, modular system that can be transported and deployed almost anywhere, allowing operators to manufacture large, high-performance components close to where they are needed rather than shipping them from centralized factories.
Researchers develop 3D-printed graphene oxide electrodes for high-density energy storage
Researchers from the University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently developed a graphene-enabled 3D printing platform that addresses a fundamental limitation in electrochemical energy storage: the tradeoff between electrode thickness and transport efficiency.
While thicker electrodes increase energy density by incorporating more active material, they typically suffer from poor ion transport and high resistance. To overcome this, the team designed interpenetrating 3D electrode architectures using an acrylate-based resin infused with graphene oxide (GO). The inclusion of GO enables the fabrication of highly porous, conductive structures that support both efficient ion diffusion and electron transport throughout ultra-thick electrodes.
Registration is now open for Graphene-Connect 2026! Join our flagship virtual graphene dedicated event in March 2026!
Graphene-Info is pleased to announce that registration is now open for Graphene-Connect 2026, our flagship two-day virtual event dedicated to graphene industrialization and innovation, taking place online on 11–12 March 2026, in collaboration with Techblick.
Graphene-Connect 2026, preliminary agenda
Graphene-Connect tickets start at our special early bird price of $400 (with discounts available for group passes).
Event overview
Graphene-Connect 2026 is the must-attend worldwide meeting place for the graphene industry, bringing together the full value chain from material producers to end users. The live online format combines a curated technical program with advanced networking tools and virtual exhibition spaces, designed to make remote participation feel as close as possible to an in‑person conference.
World-class agenda
The agenda is jointly curated by Graphene-Info and Techblick, with talks spanning graphene materials, production processes, electronics, energy storage, composites, sensors, filtration, anti-corrosion coatings, concrete, textiles, neural interfaces and more. The program mixes visionary keynotes, industrial case studies, metrology and standards updates, as well as deep-dive technical talks, ensuring relevance for both R&D experts and commercial decision-makers.
Lyten launches graphene-enhanced 3D printing filaments and adhesives for motorsports, aerospace and defense applications
Lyten has announced the official launch of two products at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show: Lyten 3D Graphene™ enhanced 3D printing filament and a structural epoxy adhesive purpose built for high temperature applications in motorsports, defense and aerospace.
Lyten announced PA1205, a Lyten 3D Graphene - infused PA12-based 3D printing filament, alongside the 6120HT high-temperature structural epoxy adhesive. Both products are built on the company’s 3D Graphene platform, designed to increase stiffness, strength, and thermal tolerance of polymers and composites while reducing weight relative to metal or conventional reinforced systems.
Graphjet to collaborate with Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for the development of thermal management material using graphene and graphite
Graphjet Technology has announced it will support and collaborate with Centre for Materials Engineering and Smart Manufacturing (MERCU) of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) on integrating graphite and graphene into additive manufacturing technology to develop advance heat sinks.
In addition, Graphjet has completed a laboratory which enhanced its capability to perform quality testing on its graphite and graphene as well as research on improvements to the graphite and graphene produced. This will reduce the Company’s reliance on third party for testing services and would allow a much quicker turnaround time for the Company’s development program. This laboratory will also serve in the collaboration with UKM.
First Graphene shares updates on its quarterly activities
First Graphene has provided an update on its financial and operational performance for the quarter ending 30 June 2025.
First Graphene reported a combined income for the June quarter of FY2025 of circa A$273,000 (almost US$177,000) - unaudited, comprised of ~A$145,000 (US$93,700) in graphene sales and ~A$128,000 (US$83,000) in paid development and grant-funded programs. The graphene sales revenue was primarily generated from the composites and polymer segments. This brings total income for FY2025 (unaudited) to more than A$1.2 million *us$776,000), covering topline graphene sales, development and grant-funded programs.
New sensor uses graphene and MOFs to detect methanol poisoning
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a simple, low-cost prototype sensor that quickly and easily detects small amounts of methanol in breath. This is a step toward developing a “methanol breathalyzer” to efficiently diagnose poisonings.
The team formulated a specialized electrically conductive ink that combined a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) and graphene. They then 3D-printed the ink onto a ceramic, creating the sensor. A machine created artificial breath by blending dry air with humid air containing methanol and then mimicked blowing the breath into a chamber containing the sensor. The prototype detected methanol at concentrations as low as 50 parts per billion (below the levels found in breath during methanol poisoning) and maintained its stability and performance after several repeated sensing cycles.
Researchers develop 3D-printed graphene composites for efficient ice control applications
Researchers from Hefei University and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed a novel 3D-printed graphene/polymer double-layer composite featuring high anisotropic thermal conductivity that offers improved photothermal and electrothermal performance for advanced ice control applications.
Graphene is known for its outstanding thermal and electrical conductivity, particularly its strong anisotropy—high in-plane conductivity and much lower through-plane conductivity. To capitalize on this property, the researchers used dual-nozzle fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing to directionally align graphene within a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) matrix. The resulting double-layer composite, consisting of graphene-enhanced TPU (G-TPU) and neat TPU (N-TPU), achieved an in-plane thermal conductivity of 4.54 W/(m·K), with an anisotropic ratio of about 8.
AI-controlled 3D printer cooks food using graphene
Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have used graphene to develop a new 3D printer that can make food layer by layer as it prints, using artificial intelligence (AI) to design complex edible structures. This integrated system combines precision infrared heating with AI-driven design tools to address key limitations in automated food production: maintaining food safety during printing and creating intricate shapes without requiring technical expertise.
a). The step-by-step food 3D food fabrication process of the printing and in-line cooking device. b). Design features of the integrative 3D food printer. c) The print head unit has an extrusion tubing inlet, extrusion nozzle, and heater holder. d) The external shell of the infrared heater has a cone-shaped design to converge heat transmission to the targeted printing area. e) The schematic diagram of the fabrication of the LIG infrared heater. Image from: Advanced Materials
Automated food production faces unique challenges compared to manufacturing with traditional materials like plastics or metals. Food must be heated properly to ensure safety, yet maintaining the intended shape during cooking proves difficult. Current 3D food printers operate in two separate steps - first printing cold food paste, then transferring it to an oven or fryer. This approach often leads to deformed shapes and increased contamination risks as the food moves between machines. The new system integrates these steps using a specialized infrared heater made from laser-induced graphene (LIG). This ultra-thin heating element provides precise temperature control, with printed food layers reaching 137°C on the surface and maintaining at least 105°C on the sides throughout the printing process, while using just 14 watts of power - a fraction of the 1000-2000 watts consumed by conventional ovens and air fryers.
Eco-friendly graphene ink could enable novel 3D printing applications in various fields
Researchers from the University of Calgary, University of British Columbia, University of Waterloo and Aalto University recently developed an all-graphene water-based ink for 3D printing via direct ink writing, which the team considers first of its kind. The ink could unlock new possibilities for addressing environmental challenges, such as eliminating invisible electromagnetic pollution from our surroundings.
The eco-friendly graphene ink enables applications in various fields, including electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, electronics, and environmental protection while providing a scalable solution for next-generation 3D-printed technologies.
