New additions to graphene exhibition look to the future

New items have been added to the Museum of Science and Industry’s Wonder Materials exhibition. The new section of the exhibition, ‘From now to the future’, looks at pioneering applications of graphene in the home and also looks at how a new generation of wonder materials could help tackle some of the huge environmental challenges facing humanity.

Among other items in the exhibition includes a printed graphene biosensor, donated by the exhibition’s headline sponsors, Haydale Limited. Haydale and its project partners are working to develop a biosensor that could one day become part of a cost effective, printed test strip for biomedical applications, such as to monitor drug toxicities on cells.

Other items include a graphene light bulb – the first commercial application of graphene to emerge from the UK, a water filtration membrane that will make it quicker and cheaper to make sea water drinkable, and lightweight industrial fasteners that would make products easier to recycle.

Wonder Materials is said to be the UK’s first major exhibition on graphene and was launched as part of the celebration of Manchester becoming the European City of Science 2016. The exhibition will run until 25 June 2017 and is free to attend.