Nanotechnology in China

China has grown a substantial nanotechnology research infrastructure and commercialization base in less than a decade.

From a low base, China has established itself as one of the leading countries in nanotechnology. Over the past decade, the Chinese government has significantly expanded financial support for R&D in corporate enterprises, promoted links between research institutes and commercial firms, and established nanotechnology development zones and commercialization bases. Chinese government concerns about dependency on foreign technology has fueled this policy and as a result the government has made significant budgetary commitments for research in nanotechnology, new materials, and other leading-edge scientific fields. China is now the second largest research and development (R&D) funder globally after the United States.

Graphene funding and development
A main focus area for China is the commercial development of graphene. China and South Korea hold 43% of global graphene patents (the U.S. has 23%). Six of the ten top patent holders are located in Asia, with four of those being research universities. The National Natural Science Foundation (NSFC) has spent more than $65 million on graphene R&D projects to date, mainly as part of the country’s 12th Five-Year Plan. China views technological development as the key to meeting the economic demands of its 1.3 billion citizens as the world faces a crisis of sustainability.
In July 13 2013, China Innovation Alliance of the Graphene Industry (CGIA) was established by a group of laboratories and companies, under the guidance of China Industry University Research Institute Collaboration Association. It also receives a variety of supports from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology National Development and Reform Commission, and NSFC.
China has established several graphene development bases in Chongqing, Wuxi, Nanjing and Qingdao. The Ningbo regional government has provided $14.7 million over three years (2014-2017) to develop the graphene industry, and plans a $1.62 billion industrial scale-up investment over ten years.
A number of Chinese start-ups have built multi-ton graphene facilities with government funding in a very short period. Total annual production capacity of small graphene sheets and graphene films in China is in excess 500 tons and 110,000 m2.

Graphene Powder producers include:
• Ningbo Morsh Technology Co., Ltd.
• Xiamen Knano Graphene Technology Co., Ltd.
• Jiangsu Yueda Mote New Mstar Technology Co., Ltd.
• The Sixth Element (Changzhou), Ltd.
• Fangda Carbon New Material
• Beijing Kangde Xin Composite Material
• Tianjin PuLan Nano Technologies Ltd.
• Nanjing JCNANO Technology Co., Ltd.
• SuperC Technology Ltd.
• DT Nantech Ltd.

Graphene Film Manufacturers include:
• Sichuan Jinlu Group Co., Ltd.
• 2D Carbon Graphene Material Co., Ltd.
• Chongqing Morsh Technology Col, Ltd.
• Institute of Aeronautical Materials (IAM) of Aviation Industry of China (AVIC)
• Nanjing XFNANO Materials Tech.

In 2015, the government sought to accelerate the commercialization of graphene. In March 2015, the Ministry of Science and Technology established the National Industry Base of Graphene New Materials in Changzhou and the National Torch Industry Base of Graphene and Carbon Materials in Qingdao in August 2015.
The National “13-5” Project was also established. From 2016 – 2020, 100 graphene industry parks will be built with the intention of generating revenues up to 100 billion RMB of graphene products and revenues up to 1000 billion RMB of graphene related products. Application focus areas are:
• new energy and electrical cars
• composite materials
• coatings
• energy saving and environment protection technologies
• desalination
• soft and foldable touch display screen
• intelligent wearable materials.

In April 2016, Guangzhou OED Technologies announced that they have developed the world’s first graphene electronic paper and there are a number of other electronics products on the market in China incoporating graphene as conductive additives. In the same month a Chinese company unveiled a flexible graphene-enabled smartphone at the Nanping International Convention Center in Chongqing. A video of the smartphone is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OS-hojoC4A

Future Graphene Strategy
In November 2015, the Myinistry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Science and Technology issued an official document “Guidance on Graphene Industrial Innovation and Development” that outlined a strategy for accelerating graphene commercialization in China.
The key points of this guidance were:
1. Seize the opportunity of the rising period of graphene industrialization: The guidance indicates that it is the critical time for graphene technology moving up from R&D to industrialization.
2. Build graphene technology as the forerunner industry:
a. To 2018, the production chain of graphene manufacture, downstream R&D, and commercial products shall be built up.
b. To 2020, well established graphene manufacture and marketing system shall be completed.
This includes about 10 strong competitive companies that can manufacture standardized graphene products with competitive prices, and 3 – 5 world leading innovation platforms.
3. Drive key technology innovation:
a. Solve problems in processing, ensure controllable product quality and processing stability.
b. Secure IP system.
c. Establish public service system including analytical laboratories and quality control platforms.
4. Promote exemplary of downstream applications:
a. Focus on energy storage devices, functional coatings, re-enforced rubber and tires, thermal management products, sensors, touching components, and electronic components etc.
b. From 2016 to 2018, build up 12 exemplary production lines for commercialization of graphene applications, i.e., 4 lines per year.
5. Develop green and recyclable processing, and ensure sustainable development.
6. Serve for the national key engineering projects and for continuous improvement of life quality.
7. Supporting systems include privilege policy made by the governments, oriented investment, standardization system, and other necessary supportive services.
Overall, it emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in graphene commercialization.