A graphene industry innovation center was established Tuesday in Beijing, aiming to become a world-class graphene composite technology research and industrial incubator hub.
Graphene is a flat sheet of one-atom-thick carbon with the carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb lattice. Since it was first successfully isolated in 2004, it has been lauded for its outstanding potential in fields such as energy, high-tech materials, sensors, and optoelectronic devices.
Beijing Graphene Industry Innovation Center will take the advantage of Beijing's innovative resources to research and develop cutting-edge new materials. It hopes to speed up the transformation of scientific research achievements and enhance the graphene industry.
In China, which has substantial graphite deposits, more than 500 companies already specialize in graphene products.
China expects to establish a comprehensive graphene industry system by 2020, according to a plan drafted by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2015.