Water-based graphene ink enables new applications in 3D printing

A research team at the University of Waterloo has developed an environmentally friendly graphene ink for 3D printing that could enable a wide range of industrial applications. Graphene is known for its high strength, electrical conductivity and thermal properties, but its processing in powder form is often problematic. Scientists have overcome this obstacle by developing a method to disperse graphene nanosheets in water without compromising electrical conductivity.

“Shaping graphitic materials into complex geometries for advanced applications has long been a critical challenge that has limited their widespread adoption,” said Dr. Milad Kamkar, a professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Waterloo. “With our proposed methods, we can 3D-print graphene into any shape.”

Potential applications for the ink range from wearable sensors for smartwatches and fitness wristbands to medical applications, such as glucose monitors for diabetics, and lightweight components for vehicles that could reduce weight and thus lower fuel consumption. It could also be used for water filtration and desalination as well as for printed electronics or as a component of batteries.

Another field of application is environmental technology. Thanks to the porous and highly absorbent structure, 3D-printed graphene materials could contribute to the removal of oil pollution in oceans or be used to bind CO₂ in the atmosphere. The production of the ink is based on a two-step electrochemical process that is suitable for industrial scaling. A special intercalation method, in which molecules are introduced between graphite layers, enables the continuous production of graphene nanosheets in water.

“Our modern technological advancements have come at the cost of new environmental challenges,” said Kamkar, who is also director of the Multiscale Materials Design Lab at Waterloo. “To survive and address these challenges, we must develop new materials that are more effective than those currently available. This can only be achieved by controlling and fine-tuning material properties across multiple scales, from the molecular and nano levels to the macro scale.”

In the next steps, the research team plans to further develop the ink for advanced applications in environmental technology. In particular, the focus will be on technologies for CO₂ capture and environmentally friendly processes for removing pollutants. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A.