Project progress
Ongoing project, Duration: 01. July 2020 – 28. February 2023
27. November 2019: Positive evaluation of project proposal
December 2019 – April 2020: negotiations between Topic Manager – CS2 JU – CEST (Coordinator)
01. April 2020: Signature of Grant Agreement
01. July 2021: Start of project
7. July 2021: Kick-off meeting (Teams conference call due COVID-19 restrictions)
July 2020 – December 2020: WP1 and WP8 running, WP1 finished on 31. December 2020 (Kick-off Meeting Report, Dissemination plan, Data Management Plan, Feasibility Study Report submitted)
January 2021 – April 2022: WP2, WP3, WP4, WP5, WP7, WP8 running, Several deliverables on the aimed functionalities prepared, Functional systems developed
May 2022 – February 2023: WP6, WP7, WP8 finished, Project report completed, Functional demonstrator produced
Curved Leading Edge Demonstrator
With the end of the project, a functional curved leading edge demonstrator was produced. It combines De-Icing, Water Uptake Prevention and Corrosion Resistance based on reduced graphene nanosheets within a single coating system. Based on thermal simulations, the demonstrator is suitable to operate in icing conditions on the leading edge of a small passenger aircraft.
We are happy to achieve our goal of a multifunctional graphene-based leading edge structure and look further to improve the system in the future.
Participation at COAST 2023
From May 2-3 2023 the 2nd Conference of Applied Surface Chemistry 2023 (COAST 2023) took place at TU Vienna with a broad variety of international contributions on surface science and sustainable technology.
Our project team was able to participate with the poster contribution „With 2D to sustainability:
Graphene nanosheets as multipurpose solution in aeronautics„.
Publication on De-Icing and Water Uptake Prevention
On April 26 2023 our paper „L-Ascorbic Acid Treatment of Electrochemical Graphene Nanosheets: Reduction Optimization and Application for De-Icing, Water Uptake Prevention, and Corrosion Resistance“ was published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
The paper shows reduction of graphene nanosheets and their application in De-Icing and Water Uptake Prevention. The highlight is a mathematical model describing the relation between sheet resistance and nanosheet concentration.
Publication on Lightning strike protection
On February 20 2023 our paper „Lightning Strike Protection: Current Challenges and Future Possibilities“ was published in the journal Materials.
The paper shows current challanges of Lightning strike Protection in aeronautics and summarizes oppurtunities based on Graphene and 2D materials. Combining literature data and data originated from the Graphicing-project, the paper elucidates possbilities for next-generation aircraft.
Prototype Production
Based on our results, in the last stage of the project we are combining aimed functionalities and start producing a leading edge prototype. Within this prototype we are using graphene-related materials to produce a next-generation aeronautical composite structure.
Participation at AIChe Annual Meeting 2022
From November 13-18 2022 our scientists Pierluigi Bilotto and Markus Ostermann were able to participate at he AIChE Annual Meeting 2022 in Phoenix. With his presentation „Development of a Graphene Oxide Based Composite to Express Multifunctionality of Interest for Aviation Industries“ Markus presented project results to an intercontinental audience. With a broad set of topics at the conference, valuable input for the project was obtained.
Article in the Young scientists calendar
As a promising young scientist, our PhD student Markus Ostermann is featured in the lower Austria Young Scientists Calendar. The Podcast about his work within the GRAPHICING project is available via the link.
Participation at Graphene week 2022
From September 5-9 2022, our PhD student Markus Ostermann was able to participate at the Graphene week 2022 in Munich. In course of the conference, he was able to present a poster on „Development and Up-scaling of electrochemical production and mild thermal reduction of graphene oxide“ as well as attend a lot of very exciting presentations of the leading graphene experts.
Publication on Graphene oxide production and Up-Scaling
On July 1 2022 our paper „Development and Up-Scaling of Electrochemical Production and Mild Thermal Reduction of Graphene Oxide“ was published in the journal Materials.
The paper shows the Up-scaling of the green, electrochemical production of graphene oxide, which is the first step towards our aeronautical applications. We were able to prove the potential of this process in terms of future industrial production.
Participation at Lange Nacht der Forschung 2022
On May 20 2022 we were able to present some of our results at the Lange Nacht der Forschung 2022 (Long night of science) to a broad audience of scientificly interested people. The ongoing research on De-Icing panels could be shown with a hands-on demonstrator and also be investigated via microscopy.
We were excited to see such a great interest in our research and hope to have fascinated young visitors with our work.
Participation at COAST 2022
From May 16-17 2022 the 1st Conference of Applied Surface Chemistry 2022 (COAST 2022) took place at CEST in Wiener Neustadt. Multiple international speakers gave interesting talks in diverse areas of surface chemistry.
Our project team was able to participate with the poster contribution „Towards next generation coatings: Production and application of rGO-nanomaterial“ and won the best poster award in the category PhD students.
Participation at the 34. symposium on surface science 2022
From March 13-19 2022 part of the project team was able to take part at the 34. symposium on surface science in St. Christoph am Arlberg, Austria. Markus Ostermann was able to present results from the Graphicing-project in an oral presentation under the title „Reduced graphene oxide:
From industrialisable production to de-icing application“.
The presentation including a live demonstration of a graphene-based heating panel was well received and an oppurtunity for scientific discussion on the topic of novel graphene-related systems.
Participation at the EUROMAT 2021 virtual conference
From September 13-17 2021 our PhD student Dipl.-Ing. Markus Ostermann was able to take part at the EUROMAT 2021 virtual conference including an oral presentation with the topic „Production of few-layer graphene oxide via a novel electrochemical process“.
The conference was a great chance to present research results of the project and also get new ideas and input from other researchers.
Innovation Award Upper Austria 2020
GRAPHICING received a recognition from the jury and developments of project are part of the Upper-Austrian innovation successes 2020.
1st prize at tecnet-accent Innovation Prize 2020 award
First place went to Dr. Peter Velicsanyi with his project “Graphene Based Materials Development for Innovative Aeronautical Applications”. Peter Velicsanyi from CEST (Centre of Excellence for Electrochemistry and Surface Technology) has developed novel graphene-based materials with a wide range of potential applications. The research results could make an important contribution to reducing CO2 emissions in aircrafts. Novel, innovative aviation applications for instance are conceivable, by means of which the total weight of aircrafts could be reduced.