When Chinese president Xi Jinping visited the University of Manchester in October, he was shown the world's first graphene light bulb. Manufactured by BGT Materials in China, this light bulb is being launched globally in the UK this month, carrying with it the potential to change the lighting industry.
With a longer lifespan and cheaper production costs, the graphene light could become a strong rival to the popular LED lights. Graphene's ability to dissipate heat quicker will also give manufacturers more flexibility in designing lighting systems. BGT estimates sales will reach 300,000 to 500,000 bulbs in this year.
Graphene is one of the most interesting inventions of modern times. As a thin layer of pure carbon, it is tougher than a diamond, yet very lightweight and easily conducts electricity and heat. It has been used for a wide variety of applications, from strengthening tennis racket to building semiconductors.
Graphene was first isolated from the graphite mineral at The University of Manchester by Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov in 2004, earning them the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2010. Due to its short history, its commercial potential is yet to be unlocked.
It is used by the Austrian sports equipment firm Head to strengthen tennis rackets, and the Italian firm Vittoria uses graphene to strengthen bicycle tyres.
Thanks to Xi's October visit to BGT, which is located in the University of Manchester's National Graphene Institute (NGI), the institute has signed deals with two Chinese firms, telecommunications firm Huawei, signed during Xi's visit, and the Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials and Aviation Industry Corporation of China.
"The level of interest from Chinese companies keen to work with has really took off since the state visit, and we received so many enquiries," said James Baker, Graphene Business Director at the NGI.
The cooperation project with Huawei currently focuses on research into graphene's thermal management properties, which can be useful to enhance Huawei's products. The cooperation with BIAM and AVIC is to conduct research of how to incorporate graphene into materials used in the aviation and other transport sectors.
Robert Young, a Professor of Polymer Science and Technology, who leads the NGI's cooperation with BIAM and AVIC, says the use of graphene in the transport industry can lead to significant benefits. "Graphene is a strong light weight material and in the transport industry it's important to save weight and become fuel efficient," says Young.
China has already invested heavily and made it a strategically important new material in its 13th five year plan, which sets out the country's development objectives from 2016 – 2020.
