Funding

“Deformation, Yield and Failure of Graphenes and Graphene - based Nanocomposites” (GRAPHEs)

Project objectives

Measurement of Young’s modulus, tensile strength, yield point (if present) and strain to failure. Definition of the linear regime in stress-strain curve and non-linear effects up to fracture

Introduction of evenly distributed defect populations in monolayer graphenes. Investigation of the effect of defects (size and density) upon tensile failure.

Measurement of compression strain to failure (buckling) of bare and embedded monolayer graphene flakes.

Investigation of mode of failure in compression between single layer and multi-layer graphenes. Measuring the compression strain to failure (buckling) upon increasing graphene layers (thickness).

4th call of ERC Grant Schemes, General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, Culture and Sports,

Duration: 2012-2015

Budget: 1.271.000 Euros

Coordinator: ICE-HT

Despite the huge research efforts in electronic properties of graphene, very little information is available for the non-electronic properties (e.g. thermal and mechanical). The interplay between mechanical and electronic properties is expected to enable a whole class of graphene electronics (“strain engineering”) that will surpass current strained-silicon based applications. Another open field of development is that of composite materials. By making stable graphene suspensions and chemically modified its surface, graphene can be used as the reinforcement phase in a new class of strong and stiff nanocomposites.

This research campaign aims to study the mechanical properties of graphene in various structural forms (single and multiple flakes free standing or on top of various substrates). To date most of the work concerning the mechanical response of graphene under various stress states is of theoretical nature and refers to tension and compression loading of model graphenes. Raman spectroscopy combined with conventional mechanical characterization techniques is a unique tool to study graphene mechanical response. Raman active bands can be used to identify individual graphene flakes or to count the number of graphene layers. Furthermore, probing the shift of phonon frequencies is an effective way to assess structural deformation of graphene flakes under an applied stress or strain. Also, this technique is significant in the exploitation of graphene as nanoscale reinforcement in polymer-based composites. The efficiency of the external stress transferred from the matrix to the nano-inclusions is very important for the procedure. It should be stressed that the scientist in charge (Prof. C. Galiotis) of the project has made significant contributions on the mechanical properties of monolayer graphene for strains up to 1.3%. The achievement of large strains, greater than 1.3%, will be studied experimentally in this work.

Support of Post-Doctoral Researchers, General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Hellenic Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs, Culture and Sports,

The aim of this project is the exfoliation of graphene flakes from a graphite crystal and its deposition on various polymeric substrates, in order to produce simple supported graphene samples or model polymeric graphene composites. Tensile and compressive measurements will be performed to the above samples for small and high level of strain, collecting simultaneously Raman spectra of G and 2D bands. Similar measurements will be made also for graphite and carbon fibres. The in situ spectroscopic study of the shift of characteristic G and 2D peaks will gives us the ability to record the mode of deformation in graphene and to connect its mechanical properties to all graphitic materials ranging from 0-D to 3-D.

“Enabling Energy Efficient and Economic Photovoltaic Cell Architectures based on Advanced Laser Processing of Silicon” (PHOSIL)

Project objectives

Enabling Energy Efficient and Economic Photovoltaic Cell Architectures based on Advanced Laser Processing of Silicon: The project intends to develop alternative photovoltaic cell architectures enabled by local laser processing and modification, which allows the use of cheaper raw materials (silicon) and a much lower generation of waste material. The focus is on high efficiency and low production cost for custom and flexible PV cells, to provide the European silicon photovoltaic industry with new market opportunities, from the production of low cost silicon photovoltaic modules, to the reutilization of scrapped wafers and to make PV-based custom products for architectural or vehicle integration.

Funding body

ERA-NET LEAD ERA (ΕU),

Duration: 2011-2013

Budget: 1.250.000 Euros

Coordinator: AIMEN(Es)

Partners: ICE-HT, ADVENT(EL), FERROATLANTICA (Es), IREPA (Fr)