The CDT in 2D Materials of Tomorrow hosted its Industry Engagement and Partnership Day at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) on 25 June 2026, bringing together academics, GEIC specialists and companies to identify industrial challenges and develop new opportunities for collaboration.

Rather than following a traditional programme of academic presentations, the event adopted an industry-led approach, inviting companies to present their current technical challenges and unmet needs. This enabled academics and GEIC specialists to explore potential solutions and identify opportunities for collaborative R&D and industry-supported CDT PhD projects.

The afternoon featured themed breakout sessions covering 2D-material-based devices and electronics; composites and coatings; membranes, filtration and separation technologies; and imaging and characterisation. Roundtable discussions were complemented by dedicated one-to-one meetings, giving industry representatives and researchers the opportunity to explore specific technical challenges and potential collaborative projects in greater depth.

A key objective was to connect fundamental academic research with translation and commercialisation. The event highlighted the GEIC’s capabilities in scale-up and commercialisation, demonstrating how collaborative research in 2D materials can progress from university laboratories towards industrial application.

The event attracted a diverse range of organisations, from established companies and national organisations, including Seagate, Baker Hughes and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), to emerging technology companies such as AeraLung Technologies, alongside Water Offsets, Cambridge Display Technology, Vector Homes, TBA Protective Solutions and others.

Professor Rahul Nair, commented: 

The approach has already delivered tangible outcomes, with two industry-funded projects secured and a further project currently under discussion as its scope is finalised.

The longer-term ambition is to build a collaborative environment that brings together academic expertise, industrial insight and the scale-up and commercialisation capabilities of the GEIC. By integrating these strengths from an early stage, the CDT aims to develop research projects that address genuine industrial needs while creating valuable opportunities for doctoral researchers to engage directly with industry.

Prof Cinzia Casiraghi, Chief Scientific Officer at the GEIC, comments:

“We have been delighted to host this CDT event at the GEIC, reflecting our role in connecting academic research with industrial innovation. Bringing PhD researchers and industry together creates opportunities for industry-supported research addressing real technological challenges, while developing the skills and collaborations needed to accelerate advanced materials innovation.”

The day began with an energetic introduction to chemistry as pupils designed, decorated and built their own Berocca rockets. Using water bottles, water and Berocca tablets, they created rockets powered by the build-up of gas from a simple chemical reaction. After proudly showing off their colourful designs, the pupils launched their creations on the playground, with some soaring to impressive heights of around 10 metres. The excitement and anticipation before each launch made for a fantastic start to the day.

Next, the pupils explored the fascinating behaviour of liquids by creating colourful lava lamps using oil, water, food colouring and salt. As the salt carried coloured water through the oil before sinking to the bottom, the children observed how differences in density produce the characteristic "lava lamp" effect. It was a simple yet captivating experiment that encouraged pupils to think about the science behind everyday phenomena.

In the afternoon, the pupils split into groups, with each group carrying out one of three different experiments. One group built scribble bots using an electric motor, a cork and marker pens. The vibrations from the off-centre cork caused the robots to move unpredictably across the paper, producing unique works of art while introducing the principles of electric motors and engineering design.

Another group investigated the electrical properties of graphite by drawing pictures with pencil and using the graphite lines to complete an electrical circuit. This activity was especially meaningful for us as researchers from the National Graphene Institute, demonstrating how graphite—and its remarkable single-layer form, graphene—can conduct electricity. The pupils also experimented with creating simple fruit batteries, using different fruits to generate enough electrical energy to power the circuit and illustrating how chemical reactions can be converted into electricity.

The final group carried out the ever-popular magic milk experiment. By adding food colouring to whole milk before introducing a drop of washing-up liquid, they watched vibrant colours swirl and dance across the surface. The striking visual effect provided an engaging demonstration of surface tension and molecular interactions.

To finish the day, the pupils took part in a careers fair with a difference. Each group presented the experiment they had completed to their classmates as they visited the different stalls, explaining the science behind their activity and answering questions from their peers. It was wonderful to see the pupils confidently communicate scientific ideas and take pride in what they had learned.

The enthusiasm, curiosity and confidence shown throughout the day were a reminder of the importance of science outreach. We hope the activities inspired the pupils to continue asking questions about the world around them and perhaps even sparked an interest in future careers in science and engineering. It was a privilege to represent the National Graphene Institute and share our passion for scientific discovery with the next generation.

Attendees

• Adam Rosillo (author/CDT student)
• Lucy Kendall (CDT student)
• Helena Amos (CDT student)
• Qian Guo (Postdoctoral Research Associate).

Some of our most eye-catching items included our giant pencil and a graphene enforced crash helmet. One of our most popular activities gave children the opportunity to exfoliate graphite using adhesive tape, recreating the famous technique that led to the isolation of graphene. After viewing their samples under a microscope the children were able to take their graphene home! Visitors enjoyed learning how a material as seemingly ordinary as the graphite found in pencils can be peeled into sheets only a single atom thick.

Over the course of the day, we spoke to hundreds of visitors about the potential applications of graphene and 2D materials, including use in advanced electronics and sustainable technologies. The curiosity and enthusiasm shown by the children and adults alike highlighted the value of public engagement activities in helping researchers share their work beyond academia. 

The Universally Manchester Festival gave us the opportunity to develop our skills in communication and public engagement with a lay audience. Hopefully we inspired the next generation of material scientists!

Thank you to the University for hosting the event and to everyone who came to visit our stand. Seeing so much excitement for science reinforced the importance of outreach within the CDT, and we look forward to engaging with even more communities in the future.

The workshop introduced the principles and applications of atomic force microscopy before giving students hands-on experience of the Park Systems FX40 system. Through demonstrations and sample analysis, participants explored how advanced AFM techniques can be used to investigate the physical, electronic and magnetic properties of two-dimensional materials.

AFM is a versatile characterization technique that is widely used in the study of 2D materials. With nanometre-scale precision, it is generally used to measure the topography of materials; however, advanced AFM techniques can also be employed in other interesting experiments, to study magnetic and electronic properties, for example.

The workshop began with an introduction to the fundamental working principles of AFM, explaining how it probes properties in 2D systems, followed by a hands-on demonstration of Park Systems’ new FX40 AFM system and its capabilities. The final part of the workshop involved using this instrument to characterise our samples, demonstrating the system flexibility, allowing to create specific “recipes” that can be tailored according to our experiment requirements.

With the demonstration of the FX40, we were able to understand the capabilities and unique features of this equipment. The most notable feature was the automated nature of this system, allowing for a fully automated loading and switching of AFM tips, something that many of us have spent hours performing the same task manually on the systems that are currently deployed in the labs. Eliminating the risk of dropping or breaking a tip, along with the time saved through automation, is a welcome feature, allowing us to spend more time taking the measurements we need and obtaining reliable results. 

The FX40 was also capable of seamlessly switching between magnetic, conductive or piezoelectric and several other measurement modes by simply changing the tip and swapping a few numbers of accessories on the system. This process would normally require us to take our samples to another AFM system, probably located in another lab, making the added convenience and the time savings particularly valuable besides making life easier. 

The workshop was very useful for us in our first year of our PhDs. Although we had previously been introduced to AFM, we were not fully aware of the wide range of measurement modes available. It was both interesting and exciting to consider how these AFM measurement techniques could be applied to the study of 2D materials which many of us aim to investigate in our respective experimental projects. Whether the 2D system under study is an insulator (dielectric), conductor, semiconductor, or a magnetic material, the FX40 system offers specialised modes that can probe interesting material properties. 

Most of us, came away with new ideas and directions for incorporating the AFM technique into our projects. It was also nice and valuable to have the opportunity, during the lunch break, to discuss the system and our research work with experts in the field in a friendly and informal setting. These discussions provided valuable insights and fresh perspectives on both the system and our own research. 

Thank you to Park Systems UK for the engaging demonstration and discussions and thank you to the NGI for hosting the workshop.

We each gave a flash talk introducing our research projects, which was great practice for presenting to a conference audience and fielding a range of questions. The talks prompted later informal discussions about experimental processes and techniques and it was interesting to hear what everyone has been up to since joining their research groups. Each student from the graphene NOWNANO CDT, who are in their 3rd or 4th year of study, presented on their research.

This gave us the opportunity to learn about the breadth of 2D materials research that is going on in Manchester, from condensed matter and theoretical physics to catalysis and drug delivery systems. It was also great to spend time getting to know those in the later stages of the CDT and hearing about their experiences at the start of their PhD. This was facilitated by the evening social activities, which included a ‘pub’ quiz and boardgame night.

We were able to make the most of the beautiful weather by taking a walk in the nearby Brereton Heath nature reserve. The hotel grounds also had much to offer; whilst chasing the evening sun, we found a very friendly herd of cows. Watching how they reacted to jazz music was definitely a highlight!

Another highlight of the conference was the series of invited talks from researchers at Lancaster, Manchester and Cambridge. Prof. Edward Laird (Lancaster University) showcased how carbon nanomaterials can be used for precision quantum measurements, discussing carbon nanotube resonators capable of detecting the motion of individual electrons and the development of miniature clocks based on endohedral fullerene molecules. Dr. Nick Clark (University of Manchester) demonstrated how advances in electron microscopy, machine learning and data analysis are enabling atomic-scale investigations of complex 2D material systems, from liquid-cell microscopy to twisted van der Waals interfaces. 

Dr. Carla Boix-Constant (University of Cambridge) presented exciting work on engineering interfaces in two-dimensional magnetic heterostructures, illustrating how molecular materials, magnetic interactions and twist angles can be used to tailor electronic and magnetic properties for future spintronic devices. 

Together, the talks highlighted the breadth of research being carried out across the 2D materials community.

Tuesday afternoon was a change of pace, with a more interactive careers workshop run by code switch consultants. The focus of this session was to look beyond academia and consider how the skills gained during a PhD can be applied to a wide variety of roles, such as technical consultancy and careers in policy or governance. It was helpful to discuss how in our PhD we are not just building knowledge in a specific area but developing problem-solving skills and a pattern of thinking that can be used in many fields. This was evidenced by the alumni panel, which rounded off the whole conference. 4 graduates of the CDT came to answer our questions and give an insight into their PhD journey and the experiences they have had since. It was encouraging to hear their positive memories of their time in Manchester and see the diverse career paths they pursued post PhD. 

Along with advice on time management, networking and job-hunting, the main takeaway was to make the most of every opportunity. It was a fitting end to a successful conference—many thanks to the organisers, speakers, alumni and fellow students who made the conference such a valuable experience. We look forward to next year! 

The TechExpert pilot, part of the TechFirst skills programme, will support 500 new doctoral students eligible for home fee status in participating UKRI Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) and Doctoral Focal Awards (DFAs) in the six frontier industries under the digital and technologies sector in the UK’s modern industrial strategy, plus a small number prioritised for digital and technologies in the Financial Services sector agreed between the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and HM Treasury.

TechExpert students will receive an enhanced stipend of £10,000 above the UKRI minimum stipend. In return students will be asked to take part in additional TechExpert activities for up to 10 days each year, including outreach to promote tech careers, networking with the TechFirst community and engagement with the tech industry. 

The aim of the TechExpert pilot is to strengthen the UK’s innovation pipeline and build a more inclusive, resilient and high-impact research ecosystem. It will test whether a higher stipend makes doctoral study a more competitive and financially viable alternative to entry-level industry roles, retaining talented graduates in research roles at doctoral level to upskill for future tech careers, as well as providing a viable way back into these roles for those who are employed. 

This programme is being delivered by the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), working with the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), on behalf of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

That potential was recognised early on. With the support of Dr Eli Harari’s £50,000 preseed award, Seb was able to transform his ideas into Watercycle Technologies, setting the company on a path of rapid innovation and growth.

Fast forward five years and Watercycle has now come back to the CDT ecosystem, this time as a supporter of new doctoral training. We are delighted to be welcoming two new projects funded through Watercycle and the University of Manchester:

• Helena Amos, a physics graduate, will be working with Professor Marcelo LozadaHidalgo to build on landmark discoveries in ion transport through 2D crystals, expanding a field with far reaching technological relevance.
• Heloise Grandjouan joins Professor Sarah Haigh to explore advanced imaging of recycled battery-derived cathode materials, drawing on state-of-the-art liquid-phase TEM techniques.

Watercycle’s investment in Heloise’s project has been complemented by matched funding from the University to enable Helena’s, an excellent demonstration of how academia and industry can mutually reinforce each other. Research drives innovation; innovation feeds back into research. Community supports community and everyone benefits.

We are excited to see the progress and Helena and Heloise will make and the impact their work will have on both the research landscape and Watercycle’s future technologies.

We look forward to this being the first of many collaborations with Watercycle and other industrial partners in the years ahead.

• Discover more details, including location and registration, of the 2D Materials Open Day.

Open Day events

If you’d like to know more about the CDT, we are involved in a number of open days and events where you can meet members of the team, chat to students and even tour the facilities.

• The Faculty of Science and Engineering will be holding its annual PGR Open Day on the afternoon of 5 November 2025.
• New for 2026 is the Virtual Open Day being hosted by the Faculty of Science and Engineering on 12 November 2025, when our Director Irina Grigorieva will be hosting a webinar to talk about our programme.

To register for either of these events, please see our Faculty's Events page.

As our students progress through the program we’ll share their stories, and their accomplishments on the page, so that you too can see their progress. And for prospective students, it’s an opportunity for you to learn more about what we do and who we are! 

• Connect with us on LinkedIn.
   

A series of inductions followed through the week, to enable the students to gain access to our innovative facilities, followed by a fun team building session to help create and cement relationships between the students who will now spend the next six months working together gaining technical skills, before they move on as a cohort to commence their PhD in their chosen research area.