Materials Verification Measurement Standards and Maturation of Advanced Carbon Technologies
Terrance Barkan of the Advanced Carbons Council and Dr. Andrew Pollard of the UK's National Physical Laboratory discussed how measurement science, standardization, and materials verification underpin the commercialization of graphene and other advanced carbon materials. For the sector, the conversation highlights that without validated characterization methods and traceable measurement standards, reproducible manufacturing and scalable deployment of carbon nanomaterials — including graphene, carbon nanotubes, and emerging MXenes — remain unachievable.
A discussion between Terrance Barkan, Executive Director of the Advanced Carbons Council, and Dr. Andrew Pollard, Principal Research Scientist at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), highlights the essential role of metrology, standardization, and materials characterization in transitioning advanced carbon materials from laboratory research to commercial application.
The commercialization of advanced carbon materials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes, and MXenes has been recognized as a scientific and engineering challenge. However, the critical role of measurement science, standardization, and materials verification in enabling this commercialization is less frequently emphasized. In a recent conversation, Barkan and Pollard drew on their extensive experience in nanomaterials research and standards development to discuss these foundational issues.
Dr. Pollard's introduction to graphene research was somewhat accidental, stemming from his work on single-layer boron nitride at the University of Nottingham. A contaminant, carbon, led him to collaborate with Professor Andre Geim's group, placing him at the forefront of early graphene science. After completing his PhD, Dr. Pollard joined NPL, where he has worked for nearly seventeen years, bridging academia and industry to develop standardized methodologies required by the industry.
Reflecting on graphene's development, Dr. Pollard noted its integration into everyday life, such as in mobile phones, as a significant achievement. The conversation also explored the commercialization paths of different graphene forms. While initial roadmaps focused on single-layer graphene for electronics, bulk powder forms like graphene nanoplatelets have gained commercial traction. Dr. Pollard explained that dispersing nanoplatelets into composites offered a more immediate value proposition than integrating CVD graphene sheets into semiconductor devices.
NPL plays a crucial role in developing measurement standards for advanced materials. Dr. Pollard recalled industry's proactive demand for standards, highlighting NPL's position as a national metrology institute that facilitates consensus-building globally. The graphene standards landscape has matured, providing a framework that can guide emerging standards for materials like MXenes.
The "materials verification challenge" was a recurring theme, emphasizing the difficulty of confirming material properties. Graphene's early commercialization faced challenges due to inconsistent characterization practices, which Dr. Pollard and Barkan discussed. Robust characterization requires multiple complementary techniques to ensure accurate material verification.
The Advanced Carbons Council's strategic focus includes carbon materials across scales, from quantum dots to carbon fiber. Dr. Pollard supported a cross-material approach, advocating for using the best material for each application rather than privileging a single carbon form.
Looking forward, digitalization is seen as transformative for materials science and manufacturing. Dr. Pollard emphasized the importance of data quality in digitalization efforts, noting that flawed metrology undermines machine learning models and process optimization. NPL is working with international partners to develop standards for MXenes, building on the graphene experience.
The dialogue between Barkan and Dr. Pollard underscores that measurement science, standardization, and materials verification are integral to commercialization. The graphene industry's work on measurement and standards provides a foundation for future materials. For the Advanced Carbons Council and institutions like NPL, the task of translating scientific discovery into commercially viable technology continues.