Graphene Sensors: A Quantum Leap in Computing and Beyond
Jan. 10, 2025 — The University of birmingham has joined forces with Paragraf Ltd., a UK-based leader in graphene-based electronics, to revolutionize the production of graphene sensors and explore their potential in quantum computing. Backed by significant funding, this collaboration aims to scale up the production of graphene on six-inch wafers, a critical step toward commercializing this groundbreaking technology.
Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, boasts extraordinary properties, including unmatched strength and electrical conductivity. Its precision at ultra-low temperatures makes it a prime candidate for controlling the delicate magnetic shielding and qubit processors essential for quantum computing. Though, manufacturing graphene at scale and testing its cryogenic properties have posed significant challenges—until now.
With a £1.4 million award from Innovate UK and a £2 million UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, researchers led by Dr.Matt Coak are poised to overcome these hurdles. Supported by Paragraf’s expertise, the team is driving advancements that could transform industries ranging from quantum computing to electric vehicle battery management.
“Graphene magnetic sensors have the potential to be a key enabling technology in quantum computers,” said Dr. Natasha Conway, Research Director at Paragraf. “The cutting-edge research being conducted at birmingham is enabling us to prepare for this transformative market as it develops.”
Dr. Coak emphasized the groundbreaking nature of their work: “Cryogenic testing of real,practical graphene devices has not been carried out before,and their properties at ultra-low temperatures,in the realm of truly quantum behaviour,are largely unknown.”
Simon Thomas, Co-Founder and CEO of Paragraf, highlighted the broader implications: “The future of electronics lies in the adoption of advanced materials. Scaling up our production of real-world devices that are prepared to solve significant problems in quantum computing, battery management, agritech, molecular sensing, and many other arenas is a major step towards realizing that future in a sustainable way.”
The University of Birmingham’s state-of-the-art facilities,including specialized low-temperature equipment and expertise in nanotechnology and 2D materials,are central to this endeavor. The partnership with Paragraf is not only advancing the discovery of quantum states in new 2D materials but also paving the way for the deployment of next-generation technologies.
Dr. Coak elaborated on Birmingham’s role: “The School of Physics and Astronomy is carrying out systematic testing at high and low temperatures of graphene magnetic field sensors for use in quantum computers and the charging and battery management circuitry of electric cars. We are additionally probing the basic quantum physics inside these single sheets of atoms and seeking to construct detailed theoretical models to describe their electronic behavior.”
Key Highlights of the Collaboration
| Aspect | Details |
|—————————|—————————————————————————–|
| Funding | £1.4 million from Innovate UK and £2 million UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship |
| Focus | Scaling graphene production and exploring quantum computing applications |
| Key Players | University of Birmingham, Paragraf Ltd., Dr. Matt Coak |
| Applications | Quantum computing, battery management, agritech, molecular sensing |
| Innovation | Cryogenic testing of graphene devices for the first time |
This collaboration marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of advanced materials. By harnessing the unique properties of graphene, the UK is positioning itself at the forefront of the global advanced materials revolution.
As Dr. Coak and his team continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, the world watches with anticipation. The future of electronics, quantum computing, and beyond is being rewritten—one atom at a time.
Source: University of Birmingham
