Advancing industry with new materials

Graphene has the power to change the world. One student travelled from India to Manchester to find out how.

From India to Manchester

For University alumnus and application specialist, Arun Prakash Aranga Raju, Manchester was an obvious choice for his postgraduate qualification: “My home city of Coimbatore is often referred to as the ‘Manchester of South India’ due to the importance of the textile industry in both cities,” he explains.

“The University offered me exactly what I was looking for: renowned professors, world-class research facilities and high graduate employability too.”

After his master’s degree, Arun secured a PhD scholarship at the University to investigate and develop the application of graphene, the revolutionary 2D material that was isolated in Manchester in 2004 by Nobel laureates Sirs Andre Geim and Kostya Novoselov.

Advanced materials

The University is home to the global knowledge base in advanced materials such as graphene. We have more than 200 researchers working on related projects and a reputation reinforced by more than £248 million in capital and research investment, including the £60 million, state-of-the-art Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC).

“The GEIC is unique in its proactive industrial engagement and agile approach of conducting projects: a ‘fail-fast-learn-improve’ approach that leads to the rapid development of prototypes. It helps de-risk the industry adaptation of graphene and results in innovative commercial applications,” Arun explains.

From Manchester to India

Advanced materials solutions that are being developed in Manchester have the potential to transform the lives of people in India.

For example, a University-based start-up, Riptron Ltd, has developed efficient graphene-based gas sensors that could be used to monitor the quality of air in cities like Delhi.  The development of graphene-based membranes could make affordable water filtration a reality and revolutionise access to clean water in some of the country’s most rural areas.

“With their critical mass and centres of excellence, Manchester could help Indian industries gain confidence in exploring the use of graphene and 2D materials for their products via rapid development, de-risking and validation of the prototypes,” Arun says.

We’re at an exciting turning point for advanced materials. The technology exists to unlock their potential; our attention must now turn to building partnerships between researchers in Manchester and industry in India to foster applications that will change lives.