Hazard characterization of graphene based nanomaterials in energy production and storage(GrapHazard)– SAF€RA

Growing demand for greener energy resources and energy devices with improved performance has greatly increased the development of materials and systems for energy production and storage.

Unique electrochemical properties have made graphene-based materials one of the most promising tools in the development of batteries, supercapacitors and solar cells.

The increasing commercial exploitation of graphene-based materials calls for a thorough evaluation of their possible impact on human health.

The overall aim of this project is to identify and characterize the hazard posed by graphene-based materials used in energy production and storage. This will be achieved by using state-of-the-art cell culture techniques.

To reach its overall aims, GrapHazard will:

1. Adapt toxicity test guidelines for advanced materials and apply them for graphene-based materials testing

By employing the latest principles and procedures developed within the OECD Manufactured Nanomaterials Working Party programme and comparing in vitro results with the human biomonitoring data generated within the EU Graphene Flagship programme.

2. Contribute to elucidating the mechanisms of action at the basis of human toxic responses after inhalation exposure to graphene-based materials

By using in vitro approaches able to differentiate between primary (interaction with target cellular components) and secondary (mediated by an inflammatory response) mechanisms of actions.

3. Assess how the physico-chemical properties of graphene-based materials can affect their toxicity

By evaluating graphene-based materials with different physico-chemical properties for their in vitro effects on targeted cells, providing data that can be used in selecting safer materials in energy production and storage applications (Safe-by-Design approaches).