WINTER 2017/18
www.chemicalindustryjournal.co.uk
Project receives funding
NEWS z
Transistor research
An international team of scientists has discovered a new route to ultra-lowpower transistors using a graphenebased composite material. When transistors are squeezed into small areas within computer chips, the semiconductor industry struggles to contain overheating in devices. Researchers from the University of York and Roma Tre University believe the solution lies in composite materials built from monolayers of graphene and the transition metal dichalcogenide that could be used to achieve a fine electrical control over the electron’s spin, its tiny compass needle.
A project that will help increase the competitiveness of local Small and Mediumsized Enterprises (SMEs) in the chemical industry is to receive 3.9 million euros (£3.4 million). The economic development project, known as LabFact, will unite leading research centres in the Channel area, including the University of Sussex, in supporting and training SMEs on clean and environmentally-friendly ways to manufacture fine chemicals. Through a series of development courses and consultation services, SMEs in the South of England and North of France will learn production techniques which will help unlock new, low cost and low waste manufacturing opportunities in the industry. Professor Mark Bagley, who leads the team at the University of Sussex, said: “The chemical sector is hugely important to both the French and UK economy, and we are all excited to have the opportunity to share our knowledge
through this significant project, with such strong financial backing. “Sussex brings expertise in microwaveassisted synthesis, flow processing, drug discovery and array synthesis to help innovate manufacturing for the future. “We are especially pleased that the LabFact project has a focus on working with SMEs to develop more efficient and sustainable methods of production in the chemical industry, benefiting both the economy and environment in the Channel area.” The programme will support four new PhD studentships at the University of Sussex and new mechanochemistry and photochemistry reactors to add to existing instrumental technology. Seven partners from the UK and France will be involved in the LabFact project, including the University of Sussex’s Chemistry department. The team members are: Professor Mark Bagley, Professor John Spencer, Professor Brian Cox, Dr Eddy Viseux and Dr John Turner. The overall project budget will total 5.7 million euros, with 69% funded by the Interreg FCE programme, representing a European Development Fund budget of 3.9 million euros.
Research opens up new markets Scientists at The University of Manchester have fabricated miniaturised pressure sensors using graphene membranes which can detect minute changes in pressure with high sensitivity, over a wide range of operating pressures. Dr Aravind Vijayaraghavan and PhD student Dr Christian Berger have shown that it is possible to make an atomically thin membrane of graphene float just nanometers above the surface of a silicon chip.
They have established a spin-off company, Atomic Mechanics, with a view of commercialising the technology and Dr Berger and fellow PhD student Daniel MelendrezArmada, were awarded the Eli and Britt Harari Graphene Enterprise award for their touch interface concept based on the technology. Dr. Berger said: “Our sensor can find a range of applications, such as in engines, industrial plants and even household heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, which offers us a large market.”
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The research, which could lead to lowenergy electronics, was funded by the Royal Society and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Sector performs well
The chemical and pharmaceutical sector, which is the largest UK exporter of manufactured goods with annual exports of £50 billion, is continuing to grow according to the latest survey of the Chemical Industries Association. Member companies reported the strongest employment growth over a three-month period since 2015 with 12% reporting an increase in jobs for the sector’s 140,000 direct workforce. The survey suggested that the outlook for the next 12 months is tempered by Brexit uncertainty.
Low carbon opportunities
Work is under way to develop a low carbon strategy for the chemical industry in the Tees Valley in North East England. Tees Valley Combined Authority is working in partnership with NEPIC and KPMG to develop an understanding of the economic and technological potential of low carbon initiatives. The strategy will include methods by which the Tees Valley can deploy technologies such as Carbon Capture Storage and Utilisation, district heating, the hydrogen economy and large scale energy storage. NEPIC chief executive Iain Wright said: “Tees Valley’s ambition for a modern and prosperous low carbon economy is a really exciting opportunity.”