Standardization

Researchers at The University of Manchester, working with the UK’s National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and 15 international partners, have developed a new protocol, using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which is meant to underpin a new ISO technical specification for graphene.

The results of the large interlaboratory selected area electron diffraction (SAED) comparison study, where the collaborating laboratories measured and analyzed nominally identical samples of chemical vapor deposited (CVD) graphene, were recently presented. Large variations were observed in the measured ratios of diffraction spot intensities, with the largest variance associated with poor quality SAED data resulting from poor specimen handling and storage. To inform the reliable determination of monolayer thickness from SAED patterns, the team provided a description of best practice for specimen handling, TEM operation, data collection and analysis. The results of this work have been directly incorporated into ISO/TS 21356-2 for the characterization of graphene sheets. 

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) recently published two new standards for graphene-related 2D materials, a step forward in supporting the growth of the global graphene industry.

This development is part of an ongoing international effort to bring consistency and comparability to the graphene ecosystem. Over the past several years, multiple organizations, consortia, and research bodies have worked to define reliable frameworks for classification, measurement, and reporting. These new documents from ISO represent another piece of that puzzle, helping ensure that graphene materials can be evaluated and traded on a global scale with transparency and confidence.

Gerdau Graphene has announced that Brazil has adopted an internationally-recognized industry standard for graphene. The Brazilian standard, published by Brazil’s National Standards Forum (ABNT), is identical to an existing international graphene standard that was developed in collaboration with more than 30 countries, including Brazil, under ISO/TC 229 – Nanotechnologies. The standard aims to characterize the different products that make up the class of materials named graphene, thus contributing to the development of new technologies.

In addition, Gerdau Graphene hosted an international consortium of nanotechnology researchers and industry leaders from April 8-12, 2024, in São Paulo, Brazil. The ISO/TC 229 – Nanotechnologies working groups covered topics related to terminology and nomenclature; measurement and characterization; health, safety, and environmental aspects of nanotechnologies; material specifications; products and applications; and more.

The Chinese Graphene Industry Association (CGIA) was established in 2013, to help promote the graphene industry in China, and has grown to over 150 members today. Recently we talked with Minyang Lu, Deputy Secretary-General of the CGIA. Major in charge of international cooperation, some domestic projects cooperation and organizing of the GRAPCHINA conference.

Q: Hello Minyang. The CGIA has grown to be the leading graphene trade organization in China, with over 150 members. Can you describe the CGIA's main activities and work?

China Innovation Alliance of the Graphene Industry – CGIA - was established on 13th of July 2013 in Beijing. It is a consortium of industrialized enterprises, academic institutions, and research organizations that are devoted to the research and development of graphene and graphene based products. The CGIA was established in order fulfill the needs of its members and their common interests, improve industrial technology innovation, and assist with legal contracts.

Specialty chemicals company Mito Material Solutions  and Cardea Bio recently announced significant progress in the international efforts to standardize graphene together with the National Institute of Standards (NIST). Brett Goldsmith, PhD, chief technology officer (CTO) at Cardea, recently returned from the International Standards Organization (ISO) meeting that took place at the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL), during which graphene material documentary standards reportedly took important steps forward.

“We see a bright future for diagnostic tools based on graphene electronics, but we’re not waiting for that future — we’re making it happen!” Goldsmith says. “Part of that means driving reliability and predictability in the graphene material industry. That’s why we are committed to supporting the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC 229.”

The results of an international comparison of the measurement of graphene, led by NPL, have been released. The work was conducted through the Versailles Project on Advanced Materials and Standards (VAMAS) and in collaboration with institutes from around the world.

The international interlaboratory comparison (ILC) outlined improvements that reduce measurement uncertainty, in some cases by a factor of 15, and which will be the basis for a new international standard which is currently under development within ISO/IEC for Raman spectroscopy. This will aim to become a verified source of data and ultimately provide more accurate and precise measurement standards for the global graphene industry.

Researchers from RWTH Aachen University and the Graphene Flagship Standardization Committee have pushed through a new IEC standard for assessing the strain uniformity of single-layer graphene using Raman spectroscopy.

Research has shown that the electrical and the structural quality of graphene are intimately connected, and that nanoscale lattice deformations caused by surface corrugations limit the mobility of electrons in graphene. Therefore, controlling the flatness of a graphene sheet is fundamental for the fabrication of high-quality graphene layers for electronic devices and the possibility of measuring this parameter with a simple and fast method is a major technological advantage. Furthermore, the new standard for detecting graphene flatness, pioneered by the Graphene Flagship and published by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), could expedite the manufacture and implementation of single-layer graphene.

A research collaboration between The University of Adelaide in Australia and the National Physical Laboratory has led to the development of a validated analytical tool, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), for the characterization and quality control of FLG and non-graphene impurities in powder form. TGA is typically used to assess and characterize the thermal properties and impurities of minerals, polymers, and carbon materials. However, its was found to have potential for use as a characterization tool for regulating the quality of graphene materials.

Now, this affordable, simple and reliable method of analysis could be used to improve the quality control measures used in the graphene industry.

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), in collaboration with international partners, have developed an ISO/IEC standard, ISO/TS 21356-1:2021, for measuring the structural properties of graphene, typically sold as powders or in a liquid dispersion. The ISO/IEC standard helps the supply chain to better define graphene materials (and distinguish them from other materials) and is based on methods developed with The University of Manchester in the NPL Good Practice Guide 145.

Over the last few years, graphene has started to move from the laboratory into real-world products such as cars and smartphones. However, there is still a barrier affecting the rate of its commercialization, namely, understanding the true properties of the material. There is not just one type of material, but many, each with different properties that need matching to the many different applications where graphene can provide an improvement.

Monash University scientists have created an innovative method to help industry identify high quality graphene cheaper, faster and more accurately than current methods. The researchers used the data set of an optical microscope to develop a machine-learning algorithm that can characterize graphene properties and quality, without bias, within 14 minutes.

Framework for quantitative analysis. Image from Advanced Science

This technology could be a game changer for hundreds of graphene or graphene oxide manufacturers globally. It will help them boost the quality and reliability of their graphene supply without need for time-consuming procedures.