Nathan Stanley

We Believe in Revolutionizing the Face of Healthcare

In partnership with Archer Materials Ltd. our team is developing a biosensing platform for point-of-care medical diagnostics. At the heart of our technology is functionalized graphene, an electro-active material capable of single-molecule detection of key biomarkers related to infection and disease. Archer’s graphene carbon material is synthesized from sustainable precursors including ethanol and sodium obtained from sea salt. The sensors we are creating are fully printed using digital and scalable technologies, enabling future automation and lower production costs. Our biosensing platform aims to make health care more accessible and affordable for all.

Our Research is Enabling Printable, Flexible Sensor Technologies

One major focus of our research is the preparation of functionalized printable inks based on graphene and other 2D materials. This technology allows us to create printed sensing devices. To be practical and commercially viable, new sensors need to meet key criteria such as low cost, minimal size, high sensitivity, suitable selectivity and offer low environmental impact construction. These thin, flexible sensors will soon find application in consumer devices from smartphones and wearables to drones to biomedical, food and environmental monitoring. We're capitalizing on digital printing technologies such as ink extrusion (direct ink writing) and inkjet materials printing. Additive, direct-to-substrate printing of conductive (graphene, carbon nanotubes, MXenes, silver) and chemi-receptive functionalized layers can be used to build up sensing elements on bio-degradable paper and thin polymer films, enabling rapid prototyping of new sensors in a tightly controlled and inexpensive manner.

                                    Multi-layer direct-to-substrate printing of chemiresistive sensing elements

We're Developing the Materials of Tomorrow

Additive manufacturing is becoming indispensable as a fabrication and prototyping tool in key sectors including aerospace, automotive, biomedical and defence. Fused filament fabrication (3D printing) is a primary technology in this ecosystem which relies on thermoplastic polymers as base material. The enhancement of features such as mechanical strength, durability, UV resistance, thermal stability and electrical conductivity can be achieved by design and formulation of new composite materials that can be applied directly to 3D printing of digitally designed structures. These new materials have already been shown to be useful in applications as diverse as EMI shielding, footwear, lightweight prosthetics and flexible strain sensors. We’re creating 3D-printable polymer composite materials enhanced with nano- and 2D materials including graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNT), molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and MXenes.