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[grabster] 10/9/2018 07:57

Quite a team.

[ellissj] 10/9/2018 07:51

Read rns again. Neills comments. At forefront of development of graphene and OTHER 2D materials and their applications. Makes me wonder whether cambridge method to produce graphinks can also produce WS2, h-BN, MoS2 ? Aimo. Best ellis

[woodpeckers] 10/9/2018 07:49

Yes, sounds like he has a very interesting day planned. Not many CEOs could probably tweet this at 7am on a Monday morning "Couldn't sleep waiting for Monday ." Great to see him enjoying it so much.

[able11] 10/9/2018 07:47

Judging by his crypticism I think Neill is off to Cardiff, either to give IQE lessons in PR or possible start of 'How graphene was my valley' expansion. pure spec on my part.

[graphite bot] 10/9/2018 07:45

Neill has board meeting this morning to catch up on accreditation then off to Wales. Very happy fellow is Neill today. To excited to sleep last night.straight From the Horses mouth

[ashehzi] 10/9/2018 07:38

This week is Graphene Week, more at

According to NR, Steve Hodge is all over there.

[festario] 10/9/2018 07:05

Just visiting Andy

[shavian] 10/9/2018 06:59

And here’s an interesting explanation of graphene in solar cells

[jointer13] 10/9/2018 06:29

slightly different take on graphene and "the watch"

In January 2017 the world's lightest mechanical chronograph watch was unveiled in Geneva, Switzerland, showcasing innovative composite development by using graphene. Now the research behind the project has been published. The unique precision-engineered watch was a result of collaboration between The University of Manchester, Richard Mille Watches and McLaren Applied Technologies. For more information see the IDTechEx report on Functional Materials for Future Electronics. The RM 50-03 watch was made using a unique composite incorporating graphene to manufacture a strong but lightweight new case to house the watch mechanism which weighed just 40 grams in total, including the strap. The collaboration was an exercise in engineering excellence, exploring the methods of correctly aligning graphene within a composite to make the most of the two-dimensional materials superlative properties of mechanical stiffness and strength whilst negating the need for the addition of other, weightier materials. Now the research behind this unique watch has been published in the journal, Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. The work was primarily carried out by a group of researchers at The University of Manchester's National Graphene Institute. Leading the research Professor Robert Young said: "In this work, through the addition of only a small amount of graphene into the matrix, the mechanical properties of a unidirectionally-reinforced carbon fibre composite have been significantly enhanced. This could have future impact on precision-engineering industries where strength, stiffness and product weight are key concerns such in as aerospace and automotive." The small amount of graphene used was added to a carbon fibre composite with the goal of improving stiffness and reducing weight by requiring the use of less overall material. Since graphene has high levels of stiffness and strength, its use as a reinforcement in polymer composites shows huge potential of further enhancing the mechanical properties of composites. The final results were achieved with only a 2% weight fraction of graphene added to the epoxy resin. The resulting composite with graphene and carbon fibre was then analysed by tensile testing and the mechanisms were revealed primarily by using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray CT scans. The benefits of this research demonstrate a simple method which can be incorporated into existing industrial processes, allowing for engineering industries to benefit from graphene mechanical properties, such as the manufacture of airplane wings or the body work of high-performance cars. The research group discovered that when comparing with a carbon fibre equivalent specimen, the addition of graphene significantly improved the tensile stiffness and strength. This occurred when the graphene was dispersed through the material and aligned in in the fibre direction. Dr Zheling Li, a University of Manchester Research Associate said: "This study presents a way of increasing the axial stiffness and strength of composites by simple conventional processing methods, and clarifying the mechanisms that lead to this reinforcement." Aurèle Vuilleumier R&D Manager at Richard Mille said: "This project is a perfect example of technology transfer from the university to the product. The partnership with McLaren Applied Technologies allows a broad diffusion of graphene-enhanced composites in the industry. As a tangible result, a world record light and strong watch was available for our customers: the RM 50-03." Dr Broderick Coburn, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer at McLaren Applied Technologies said: "The potential of graphene to enhance composites' structural properties has been known and demonstrated at a lab-scale for some time now. This application, although niche, is a great example of those structural benefits making it through to a prepreg material, and then into an actual product

[kemorkid] 09/9/2018 23:03

For any newcomers
This is a must

[zagrosfold] 09/9/2018 21:16

Fingers crossed! I'm extremely excited but half of my brain tells me to keep calm and don't believe the hype wherever possible. The other half just wants to go nuts! I read something in the paper the other day saying the British are a nation who are the least susceptible to "Fake News". It's healthy to be sceptical but even healthier to be ambitious.

[club sandwich] 09/9/2018 21:08

Zag - IMO NR is a Jobs/Gates character, neither of whom set out or expected to get as rich as they did, they just wanted to build a big company changing the world, and the vast wealth was almost incidental. NR has hinted several times on Twitter that he wants to make VRS as big as it can get - which could be one of the biggest companies in the world in time...

[luckyorange] 09/9/2018 21:02

1 kilo a shift and Jim was getting inventive to keep up?

[club sandwich] 09/9/2018 20:56

graphite bot - oh I'm not disagreeing with you on any of that, and I hope your figure is right! I hope that at least in the short-term while nanene has scarcity value (say next few years while production scales up) VRS charge as much for it as they possibly can, of course I do! ;-)

[diversification] 09/9/2018 20:29

NR discussed the gross profit margin on the sale of Graphene on Twitter not so long ago (related to collaborations). He has also discussed that by ramping up production, costs fall and therefore I would envisage the gross margin increases or more importantly makes the product commercially viable (scalable).

To then consider the objective of providing the government with a significant return on investment (£150m of capital). I would argue that the cost per gram is insignificant at this stage.

Profit will be a byproduct of scalable product uptake.

[graphite bot] 09/9/2018 20:28

If in a few months you have an order for 500kg of graphine. And you want the real McCoy the one that allows you to use the + Nanene emblem and probably the only one backed by Iso . You will not be getting it for cheap. Graphite will be very competitive not so with Graphene. All in my opinion But we are holding very good cards in any negotiations

[bootie64] 09/9/2018 20:27

Zagrosfold, "precious little profits" I would not have thought that possible with Christopher Leigh as Chief Financial Officer! ;)

[club sandwich] 09/9/2018 20:22

Zagrosfold - no, that's never occurred to me. Utterly ridiculous, in my opinion.