Up to month 18, laboratory work primarily focused on the first three work packages (WP1-3). In WP1, over 30 graphene-family materials were synthesized under controlled laboratory conditions. Work in WP3 involved the characterization of commercially produced and functionalized graphene-family materials (GFMs).In WP2 we applied advanced high-resolution, correlative imaging-based methods to characterize and quantify GFMs, defining various characteristics of 2D materials in line with the SSbD framework.
We evaluated the applicability of multiple characterization techniques, including SEM, TEM, TEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, DLS, Zeta potential measurements, UV-vis spectroscopy, and PSD, which provided critical insights into the physicochemical parameters essential for graphene commercialization, ensuring material quality, property tailoring, safety assessment, optimization, performance, reliability, market acceptance, and competitiveness. Additionally, we assessed two biological characterization methods: circular dichroism (for measuring enzyme AChE and secondary structure) and enzyme (AChE) activity/inhibition upon exposure to GFMs. Over the past 18 months, we established parameters and key descriptors for the accurate morphological, structural, and chemical characterization of GFMs.
To enhance the availability of validated protocols for nanosafety studies and material characterization, and to improve data reporting guidelines, WP4 is developing the ACCORDs knowledge infrastructure (KI). This infrastructure supports protocol documentation. Initially, ACCORDs partners uploaded their protocols to the ACCORDs Teams shared folder. With the establishment of the ACCORDs KI, we now have a fully functional protocol submission workflow via the ACCORDs knowledge portal’s web interface.
To ensure reliable data for computational modeling and the development of grouping and read-across methods, partners in WP1-WP3 actively contribute to the database, while WP4 partners set up the ACCORDs infrastructure. A workflow on the ACCORDs knowledge portal facilitates data uploads, including an image repository based on OMERO and REMBI open standards for image metadata. ACCORDs aims to develop innovative, user-friendly data and protocol reporting resources, exemplified by the ACCORDs Materials Passport concept. This approach enables the reuse of summary data on material characteristics and method performance through effective communication mechanisms aligned with FAIR data and protocols.
ACCORDs partners recognize that the lack of standards has significantly hindered the commercialization of graphene and layered materials. Consequently, methods tested in ACCORDs that demonstrate optimal performance for GFM characterization across various matrices and GFM-containing products will be recommended for standardization (ISO) and guidance (OECD), aligning with the Principles for Regulatory Acceptance under REACH. These activities are led by WP5 (Proposals for Guidance and Standards, Leader: NWU). Through these efforts, ACCORDs contributes to establishing global standards, supporting the EU’s ambitions for a new EU Strategy on Standardization.
