In the past decade, the
production of ink has undergone an interesting shift. Technological
advancements have seen changes to the production methods used to create ink,
not to mention a fluctuation in the uses of ink and its qualities.
Traditionally, ink has been
categorised into two groups: printing inks and writing inks. Writing inks are
often composed with oil-based dyes, and are designed to have quick-setting
properties for ease of use with pens and brushes. In contrast, printing inks
are produced for use with printing methods, which can be categorised into
conventional printing and non-impact printing. Conventional printing refers to
the process of transferring an image or text from a plate to a surface, whereas
non-impact printing produces an image without contact between the two surfaces.
Examples of non-impact printing may include laser, thermal and inkjet printing
technologies.
Today, however, ink can be used
for more than just decoration. Recent improvements in technology - including
the discovery of graphene - have led to
the creation of a third type of ink. Conductive inks can, as their name
suggests, facilitate the process of conductivity, and can be composed with
precious metals such as silver, carbon and perhaps the most interesting material
of them all, graphene. They can print information on materials in the same way
that images and text can be printed on paper, which holds many possibilities
for the future.
The production of graphene ink
has been especially exciting for companies in the ink, paint and coating
industry. The future of ink is changing, and the potential applications of
graphene ink could be huge. Here we will discuss the properties, uses and
potential applications of graphene ink, and what it could mean for many
industries worldwide.
What is graphene?
In 2004, researchers at
Manchester University were successful in discovering and isolating graphene, a
form of carbon with many fascinating qualities. It’s a single layer of
graphite, which is known for being the very soft material used in pencils.
Despite this, graphene - which is
just one atom thick - is the strongest material researchers have ever tested.
This is owed to its intricate hexagonal lattice structure, making it an
incredible 200 times stronger than steel. Unlike other metals, graphene can
also be stretched in size without shattering or becoming brittle. This makes it
an extremely versatile and durable material, which has exciting possibilities
for many different sectors across the globe.
Graphene is also one of the best
conductors of heat and electricity. Its two-dimensional atom structure allows
electrons to travel quickly and efficiently without resistance, making it a
much better conductor than other materials such as silver, copper and diamond.
The honeycomb-like structure also has fantastic barrier qualities - even helium
cannot pass through.
Graphene’s super thin structure
is also transparent which, when combined with its impressive thermal and
electrical conductivity, is an extremely exciting feature for companies
producing solar panels and touch screens.
In fact, graphene’s features are
particularly interesting for many companies investing in printable electronics.
The discovery of a transparent material with unparalleled strength and
impressive conductivity has caused a stir within the industry, with recent
efforts focusing on the production of graphene ink.
What is graphene ink?
Recent advancements in technology
have led to the production of graphene ink, which has been - and is still being
- celebrated by industries relying on printed electronics. Like other
conductive inks, graphene ink can be used to create printed materials which
conduct heat and electricity. Modern uses of conductive ink include printing
train tickets, plane boarding passes and RFID (radio-frequency identification)
tags, but it has a vast range of useful applications. It has also made its way
into mainstream manufacturing, and is now commonly used for the production of
smart packaging.
Graphene ink has many advantages
over other metal-based conductive inks, especially those which rely on silver
and copper, which makes it a highly sought after product with many interesting
potential applications. In addition to being exceptionally strong, transparent
and non-toxic, it is also a more environmentally-friendly alternative to
silver-based inks. Silver cannot be recycled, which means that every single-use
electronic product must be disposed of. Graphene, on the other hand, can be
recycled, and could be used to produce more eco-friendly printed electronics.
The future of graphene ink
When considering the qualities
that make graphene so unique, it isn’t difficult to see why it is so in demand,
and unfortunately, so costly. However, due to rapid improvements in printing
technology over the past 5 years, graphene ink is already becoming less and
less expensive. The possibilities of graphene ink are already immeasurable, yet
it is still difficult to predict just how much could be achieved if it became a
widely available product.
Perhaps one of the most exciting
advancements in graphene ink came from researchers at the University of
Cambridge, who collaborated with the technology company Novalia to develop a
high-speed method for printing electronics. Their method mixes graphene with
water-based inks and uses a traditional roll-to-roll process, which could allow
for the widespread use of graphene ink across a huge range of commercial
applications.
In an official report published by the University of
Cambridge, Dr Tawfique Hasan of the Cambridge Graphene
Centre claimed that “being
able to produce conductive inks that could effortlessly be used for printing at
a commercial scale at a very high speed will open up all kinds of different
applications for graphene and other similar materials.” The centre also
revealed that graphene-based ink developed with this method is
approximately 25 times cheaper than silver-based ink, which currently costs up
to £1000 per kilogram.
The widespread use of graphene
ink could open up many different possibilities. Here we will discuss some of
the sectors where it could be particularly useful.
Smart packaging
Manufacturers are always looking
for new ways to meet consumer demands and transform the retail experience.
Printed electronics could be used to allow packaging to “communicate” with
potential customers, whether by telling them that packaged food has perished or
that the temperature of their medication has fallen below (or exceeded) the
optimum level.
Wearables
Electronic wearables could soon
become commonplace thanks to exciting new printing technology. Cotton can now
be modified with graphene-based inks, which could be used to produce conductive
clothing. Electronic textiles would be especially beneficial for those in the
healthcare, fitness and lifestyle industries, and could also revolutionise the
way we design military wear.
It is within the field of
sportswear that electronic textiles is making perhaps the largest strides.
Smart shoes are currently in production, and could be used by athletes to
measure exactly where they’re exerting the most pressure during exercise.
Touch screens
Graphene’s impressive strength
and flexibility means that it could soon be used in the production of OLED
touch screens and panels. As phone and tablet manufacturers compete to impress
their customers with new and improved features, the race towards creating a
flexible OLED screen is an active one. The conductivity of graphene-based inks
also makes them an ideal component in the production of new touch screen
technology.
Disposable sensors
This year, scientists succeeded
in printing disposable biosensors with a conventional roll-to-roll method.
Biosensors are typically very expensive to produce, meaning that many
researchers continue to examine cells under a microscope rather than investing
in biosensors. Making biosensors with graphene rather than gold or platinum
could significantly reduce the production costs, and make their use more widespread
in pharmaceuticals.
Graphene-based inks can be
recycled easily, which means that they could be used to create disposable,
single use materials, including biosensors. This could have a range of
applications within the pharmaceutical industry, such as in the production of
blood glucose biosensors used all over the world by people with diabetes.
3D Printing
3D printing has gone from
strength to strength in recent years, with a huge amount of research focusing
on the benefits of using graphene-based inks. Its conductivity means that it
could be used to revolutionise drug distribution systems, neuro tissue engineering
and stem cell differentiation. In the future, medical experts hope that 3D
printed graphene products will be used for in vivo applications.
Centre Colours: Your choice for bespoke ink and coating formulations.
The future of graphene ink may be
unpredictable, but it’s also very exciting. At Centre Colours, we’re passionate
about performance inks and their applications. We also specialise in producing
tailored ink formulations, and can help with the manufacturing of inks and
coatings to bond new materials to their intended surfaces.
We’re an independent dispersion
house based in Leeds, and we strive to provide high-quality pigment dispersions
to companies in the ink, paint and coating industries. We provide our customers
with first-rate concentrates while keeping costs down, making us the top choice
for businesses across the UK.
Whether you have a completely
bespoke order or you want us to produce an existing formula, we at Centre
Colours have the dedication and the expertise to deliver great results every
time. Get
in touch with our team of professionals
to discuss your
requirements today.
