When most engineers think about semiconductors, silicon is usually the first material that comes to mind. It has been the foundation of the electronics industry for decades, enabling everything from microcontrollers and sensors to processors and memory devices.
However, in Cambridge, UK, Paragraf is taking a different approach.
During a visit to the company’s manufacturing facility, we spoke with Tony Peirce, Chief Operating Officer at Paragraf, to learn how the company is producing graphene-based electronic devices and why this material could unlock entirely new sensing applications.
What Makes Graphene Different?
Graphene is a single atomic layer of carbon atoms arranged in a two-dimensional lattice. While it is only one atom thick, it possesses remarkable electrical properties that make it highly attractive for semiconductor applications.
According to Paragraf, the key advantage lies in electron mobility. Traditional semiconductor materials such as silicon, gallium arsenide and gallium nitride are three-dimensional structures. As electrons move through these materials, they encounter resistance that limits performance.
Graphene is different.
Because it is a two-dimensional material, electrons can move across its surface with significantly less resistance. This exceptional conductivity allows graphene-based devices to achieve levels of performance that are difficult to match using conventional semiconductor materials.
Manufacturing Graphene Electronics
Unlike many graphene research projects that remain confined to laboratories, Paragraf has built a complete manufacturing capability.
The company starts with silicon or sapphire substrates before depositing graphene and other required materials directly onto the wafer. From there, the process continues through device fabrication, singulation, packaging and final chip production.
This means Paragraf is not simply supplying graphene materials. The company delivers finished semiconductor devices that can be integrated directly into customer products and systems.
Enabling Next-Generation Sensors
One of the first commercial products developed by Paragraf is a graphene-based Hall effect sensor.
The high electron mobility of graphene allows the sensor to detect magnetic fields with exceptional sensitivity. However, sensitivity is only part of the story.
Graphene devices can also operate in environments that would challenge conventional semiconductor technologies. This includes cryogenic temperatures approaching absolute zero, making them particularly interesting for emerging quantum computing applications.
The material also demonstrates strong resilience in radiation-heavy environments. Because graphene consists of a single atomic layer, radiation can pass through the material without causing the same level of disruption seen in traditional semiconductor structures. This creates opportunities for aerospace and space-based applications.
Beyond Magnetic Sensing
Paragraf’s latest developments focus on molecular sensing.
Instead of detecting magnetic fields, these sensors measure changes in conductivity when exposed to specific chemical species. The result is a highly sensitive platform capable of detecting extremely low concentrations of molecules.
Potential applications include industrial gas monitoring, environmental sensing and medical diagnostics. Examples discussed during our visit ranged from detecting contaminants in water supplies to measuring biomarkers within blood samples.
As industries increasingly demand more accurate sensing capabilities, graphene’s unique properties could provide a significant advantage over existing technologies.
From Research to Real Products
While graphene has been discussed as a future technology for many years, Paragraf is focused on making it accessible today.
Engineers interested in evaluating graphene-based sensors can access bare devices, discovery kits and evaluation platforms directly from the company. The goal is not only to provide the hardware but also to support customers as they integrate this emerging technology into commercial products.
As demand grows for higher-performance sensing in fields such as quantum computing, healthcare, environmental monitoring and aerospace, graphene-based electronics may finally be moving from research papers into real-world deployment.
For Paragraf, that future is already being manufactured in Cambridge.
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