70NANB22H010

Title: Scale-Up of Continuous Manufacturing and Productization of Graphene Fundable Outstanding Advanced Respirator and Biosensor Applications

Purpose:
The purpose of this grant is to develop new, advanced manufacturing capacity for high-quality graphene and demonstrate its use in a high-efficiency respirator mask (N98+) and biosensor applications.

Activities to be Performed:
The project team will perform the following activities:
1. Demonstrate the electrochemical exfoliation process to produce graphene in the laboratory.
2. Pilot a process to convert graphite to fully reduced graphene flake scales.
3. Develop a continuous manufacturing approach to produce graphene in larger volumes.
4. Demonstrate proof-of-concept use of this graphene in high-performance respirator masks and nano-biosensor applications.

Expected Outcomes:
The technology developed from this project will enable the development of high-efficiency respirator masks (N98+) and biosensor applications to limit exposure to and transmission of coronavirus. It will also enable the greater industrial use of graphene for other applications that are currently limited by manufacturing scale-up challenges.

Intended Beneficiaries:
The intended beneficiaries of this project are healthcare workers, the general public, and U.S. manufacturers. They will benefit from a resilient domestic supply chain for high-quality and low-cost graphene. This critical advanced material will enable the production of more breathable respirators that provide high filtration performance (N98+) and potentially antimicrobial functionality to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. Additionally, it will allow the development of an accurate, low-cost, and near real-time biosensor to detect coronavirus and its variants, enabling convenient and non-invasive testing in situ. Lastly, it will establish a widely distributed, modular domestic manufacturing capability for high-quality graphene flakes for other industrial applications.

Subrecipient Activities:
The recipient plans to subaward funds to bring in subject matter experts to scale up the technology from the laboratory to continuous manufacturing. They also plan to incorporate graphene into filter media for advanced N98/N99 respirators and incorporate graphene in a Wi-Fi nano-biosensor.

American Institute Of Chemical Engineers

TO FUND HIGH-IMPACT PROJECTS DESIGNED TO FUND AWARDS FOR RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND TESTBEDS TO PREVENT, PREPARE FOR, AND RESPOND TO CORONAVIRUS.

11.619 - Arrangements for Interdisciplinary Research Infrastructure

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [DOC]

New York, New York 10005-4020 United States

Single Zip Code

NIST Rapid Assistance for Coronavirus Economic Response (RACER) (2021-NIST-MFGUSA-RACER-01)

COVID-19 $3,733,536 (100%) percent of this Cooperative Agreement was funded by COVID-19 emergency acts including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been extended from 02/29/24 to 08/31/25.