Graphene Inks: introduction and market status
What is graphene ink?
Graphene ink is a printable formulation containing graphene flakes - typically produced as multi-layer or few-layer graphene rather than pristine single-layer sheets - dispersed in a carrier system of solvents, binders, and stabilizing agents. The ink is engineered so that once it is printed and dried (or cured), the graphene flakes form an interconnected conductive network on the substrate. Graphene inks belong to the broader family of conductive inks, alongside silver, copper, and carbon-based (carbon black, carbon nanotube) formulations, and are used to print electrically or thermally conductive patterns onto flexible and rigid surfaces.
How is graphene ink made?
Most commercial graphene inks are produced by one of two routes. The first is liquid-phase exfoliation, in which graphite is broken down into thin graphene flakes directly in a solvent or surfactant solution, typically using ultrasonication, high-shear mixing, or microfluidization. The second is based on graphene oxide: graphite is chemically oxidized and exfoliated into graphene oxide, which is easy to disperse in water-based formulations, and is then chemically or thermally reduced (to reduced graphene oxide, or rGO) to restore much of graphene's electrical conductivity. Many commercial inks also combine graphene with other conductive fillers, binders, or functionalizing agents to balance conductivity, cost, adhesion, and print performance for a specific application.
Printing and processing
Graphene inks are compatible with standard printing techniques used in the printed electronics industry, including screen printing, inkjet printing, flexographic printing, gravure printing, and spray coating, and can be deposited on substrates such as paper, textiles, glass, and flexible polymer films. Because graphene inks are typically deposited at room temperature or with only mild heating, they are well suited to heat-sensitive substrates that cannot tolerate the high-temperature sintering often required by metal nanoparticle inks. Depending on the formulation, some graphene inks still benefit from a post-print treatment - such as thermal annealing, photonic (flash) sintering, or mechanical compression - to improve flake-to-flake contact and increase conductivity.
What is graphene ink used for?
Graphene inks are used to print conductive traces and components across a range of flexible and printed electronics applications, including RFID and NFC antennas, printed sensors (strain, gas, humidity, and biosensors), wearable electronics, EMI shielding layers and coatings, printed heating elements, anti-static and anti-corrosion coatings, smart packaging, and electrodes for energy-storage devices such as supercapacitors and batteries. Their combination of electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and compatibility with low-temperature, high-throughput printing processes makes them particularly attractive for applications where the printed circuit needs to bend, stretch, or withstand repeated flexing without cracking.
Graphene ink compared with conventional conductive inks
Graphene inks are generally positioned as a lower-cost, more mechanically durable alternative to silver-based conductive inks, which remain the industry benchmark for high conductivity but are comparatively expensive and prone to cracking or losing conductivity when flexed repeatedly. Graphene-based formulations typically offer lower conductivity than silver inks at a given thickness, but this gap can be narrowed through ink formulation, hybrid filler combinations, and post-print processing. Because performance varies significantly between suppliers and formulations, and the field continues to develop new dispersion and processing methods, readers looking for the current state of the art or specific performance benchmarks should refer to recent product literature or the latest news coverage below, rather than any single figure.
SEEDS moves into dedicated NETPark site to scale graphene tech production
SEEDS, a UK-based deep-tech company developing engineered graphene platform technologies, is set to move into a new dedicated facility at NETPark (the North East Technology Park) as part of Durham County Council’s £100 million expansion of the site. This move marks SEEDS’ transition from a primarily R&D-focused operation to full-scale manufacturing, enabling the company to begin delivering customer-specific graphene-based systems for global industrial clients.
The new facility at NETPark will allow SEEDS to deploy its graphene and nano-structure ink technologies into real-world applications across microelectronics, energy storage, aerospace, automotive and advanced manufacturing. By moving into a purpose-built manufacturing environment, SEEDS aims to support international manufacturers with tailored production systems that can be rolled out anywhere in the world.
Hollow graphene aerogel fibers mimicking polar bear fur enable improved thermal management and wearable electronics
Researchers from Lanzhou University, University of Science and Technology Beijing and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed a new class of hollow graphene aerogel fibers (GAFs) inspired by the ultra-efficient thermal insulation of polar bear hair. By translating nature’s design into a scalable, coaxial-extrusion-spinning process, the team achieved a multifunctional fiber that sets records for both electrical conductivity and thermal insulation, paving the way for next-generation smart textiles.
Each fiber features a hierarchically porous, hollow structure, closely mimicking the air-trapping tubes of polar bear fur. During fabrication, graphene oxide (GO) nanoplates in the outer spinning channel self-assemble under shear stress into an arch-like microstructure, while a removable core material shapes the central cavity. After a hydrothermal reduction and high-temperature annealing - up to 2000 °C - the resulting structure combines low density with tunable electro-thermo-mechanical properties.
Researchers develop 3D graphene-derived blocks for improved conductive inks
Researchers from Monash University and Swansea University recently reported a new way to create highly concentrated graphene inks that flow well enough for industrial printing, without relying on performance-limiting additives.
The team addressed this challenge by compacting expanded reduced graphite oxide into dense-block reduced graphite oxide, termed DB-rGtO, allowing the formulation of stable dispersions of graphene-derived material at concentrations up to 200 mg·mL−1, while maintaining manageable flowability and deformation resistance.
Versarien extends graphene licensing deal with Montana Química
Versarien has announced that it has extended its existing manufacturing license agreement, and know-how license and technical assistance agreement, with Montana Química LTDA, initially announced in March 2024.
The extended agreements cover the use of the Company’s proprietary graphene and related material thermoplastic compounds and masterbatches (Polygrene™) in products to be manufactured and sold by Montana in South America, together with Versarien providing further additional know-how, technical assistance and training to Montana.
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.
Transteel and Tata Steel unveil graphene jute-cotton furniture fabrics
Transteel has teamed up with Tata Steel to introduce graphene-enhanced jute and cotton fabrics to India’s commercial furniture landscape. The advanced upholstery material, designed to boost durability and wellness, will aim to support a circular economy model and significantly reduce reliance on plastics.
The collaboration showcases Transteel’s new bio chairs collection, in combination with Tata Steel’s advanced graphene-treated natural fibers. Transteel highlights its vision of eco-conscious design that doesn’t compromise on performance.
Printable graphene inks with polypropylene carbonate can advance printed electronics
Researchers from Guangdong Technion − Israel Institute of Technology have developed printable graphene inks with low-surface-tension solvents and mild-temperature post-processing using polypropylene carbonate (PPC).
a, b Illustrations of liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) of graphene from graphite using PPC as a dispersant aid. c Photograph of graphene/PPC isolated as a powder from the liquid medium after LPE. d Photograph of a graphene ink formulated by redispersing the graphene/PPC powder. e Photograph of graphene micro-supercapacitor (MSC) electrodes deposited on paper with the graphene ink by aerosol jet printing. Image from: Communications Materials
In this work, graphene is produced by liquid-phase exfoliation with PPC, and the exfoliated graphene/PPC is used to generate printable inks. As a dispersant aid, PPC improves graphene exfoliation, dispersion stability, and redispersability in solvents with low surface tensions (<30 mJ m–2), facilitating the formulation of desirable inks for efficient aerosol jet printing on diverse substrates.
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.
Danish Graphene and Danish Technological Institute develop new graphene ink
A new graphene-based ink, which can be used for printed electronics, has been developed by Danish Graphene, in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute, in a MADE demonstration project.
Danish Graphene wanted to develop graphene in ink form to use it for printed electronics, where surfaces are coated with electrical circuits. Therefore, they sought help in a MADE material demonstration project, where they received assistance from the Danish Technological Institute. Graphene inks could be used in smart wearables, such as intelligent t-shirts that can detect small electrical impulses and thus track your pulse, or in training shoes that can analyze your running pattern.
Versarien updates on recent progress
Versarien has shared updates on its progress across several key sectors and markets, reporting a growing pipeline of opportunities, rising from £1.6 million (over USD$2 million) in October 2023 to £4.7 million currently (over USD$6,100,000), with £1.6 million (over USD$2 million) in commercial opportunities and £3.1 million (over USD$4 million) in grants. The Company said it continued to focus on developing advanced materials, especially graphene, through manufacturing-light operations and technology licensing.
In the construction sector, the company said it had placed orders for equipment to enhance its in-house construction testing capabilities following a July fundraising. The equipment would support the development of graphene-based products, such as Cementene. Versarien said it had also signed its first significant 3D construction printing (3DCP) contract with Building For Humanity CIC for a project in Accrington, UK. The Company anticipated on-site activities to begin in 2025.
