The government of Kerala recently announced the establishment of the country’s first Graphene Innovation Centre in Thrissur, Kerala. This exciting new project is a result of a joint venture between the Digital University of Kerala, the Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), and Tata Steel Limited. Back in 2020, researchers from the City University of Hong Kong produced a groundbreaking laser-induced graphene mask that could deactivate coronavirus species.
Understanding the Graphene Innovation Centre
An Innovation Centre is best understood as a cross-functional plan designed to incubate and give birth to new ideas. It offers a diverse range of opportunities for both individual and group collaboration across multiple continents and time zones. A space like this often nurtures a culture of innovation by encouraging the creation, sharing, and testing of innovative ideas.
The planned Graphene Innovation Centre in India, which will be established in Thrissur, carries a budget of Rs 86.41 crore. Out of this total, the Union Government will contribute Rs 49.18 crore, while Rs 11.48 crore will be covered by private business houses. The rest of the funding will be provided by the state government, which will also offer the basic infrastructure necessary for the project. The Centre’s main purpose will be to attract investors interested in developing graphene products.
The Significance of the Project
This state-of-the-art Centre will considerably boost scientific research, as well as strengthen the industrial sector within the state. Leveraging Kerala’s human resources capital is one of the main goals of this Centre, which will ultimately help the state evolve into a knowledge-based economy.
An Overview of Graphene
Graphene is essentially a single layer of carbon atoms organized in a hexagonal lattice. Although it is the primary building block of graphite, graphene has its own unique properties that are remarkable indeed. Graphene has been labeled as the thinnest material known to man, possessing the highest electrical and thermal conductivity. Moreover, it’s flexible, transparent, and incredibly strong.
This extraordinary substance, often referred to as a wonder material for its remarkable electrical and electronic properties, is believed to have the potential to replace Indium and thereby significantly reduce the cost of OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screens in smartphones.
Further Applications of Graphene
Graphene is not limited to just one or two applications; its potential uses are widespread and diverse. It can be used to create anti-corrosion coatings and paints. It can also serve as an efficient and accurate sensor, ideal for use in electronics that require speed and efficiency. Other notable applications include flexible displays, efficient solar panels, and faster DNA sequencing. In the healthcare sector, graphene holds promise for drug delivery systems, offering more efficiency and precision.
The establishment of the Graphene Innovation Centre in Thrissur, Kerala, marks a significant milestone in India’s scientific and industrial development.
