Cambridge-based sensor manufacturer Paragraf has embarked on a working partnership with the Magnetic Measurement section at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, with both parties set to demonstrate how new opportunities for magnetic measurements are opened up through the unique properties of its graphene sensor, particularly its negligible planar Hall effect.
Simon Thomas, CEO at Paragraf commented: “This collaboration with CERN demonstrates the potential of graphene-based Hall effect sensors to improve accuracy in magnetic measurement applications. Our Hall effect sensors address key challenges CERN is facing in mapping magnetic fields, namely: highly accurate measurements of local field distributions in accelerator magnets, while eliminating artefacts and reducing uncertainties stemming from the sensors.”
CERN operates the largest particle accelerators in the world, for example its 27 km Large Hadron Collider (LHC) which straddles the border between Switzerland and France near Geneva. Physicists look at how our world is built at the fundamental level by colliding sub-atomic particles in particle accelerators that rely on large numbers of normal and superconducting magnets to steer and focus the particle beam to their collision points.
The Magnetic Measurements section at CERN is in charge of testing magnets for these accelerators using the latest-available techniques and instruments. High precision and reliable measurements are performed for many of CERN’s ongoing projects, and therefore the team is always on the lookout for new sensors and transducers for improving their measurement methods and accuracy.
Existing Hall effect sensors all exhibit planar Hall effects where field components which are not perpendicular to the sensing plane produce false signals. This is because the sensing layer is effectively three-dimensional, with some amount of
depth. These false signals, together with the non-linear response to the field strength, increase the measurement uncertainty and thus limit the application of Hall sensors. Separating the true signals from the systematic errors is a complex and time-consuming process.
The Hall effect sensor from Paragraf solves these problems because the active sensing component is made of atomically thin graphene, which is therefore two-dimensional, and hence truly only senses magnetic fields along one direction; giving a negligible planar Hall effect. This enables the true perpendicular magnetic field value to be obtained, allowing for higher precision mapping of the local magnetic field.
“Using Hall effect sensors without planar effect would open the door to a new mapping technique by mounting a stack of sensors on a rotating shaft. The compelling advantage would be measurements of the harmonic content in accelerator magnets almost point-like along the magnet axis”, commented Stephan Russenschuck, head of the magnetic measurement section at CERN.
One of the other key properties of Paragraf’s Hall effect sensor is its wide temperature range from +80°C down to cryogenic temperatures of 1.5 Kelvin. For CERN, this means that fields inside the superconducting magnets could be measured with high accuracy, using sensors operating in liquid helium temperature ranges (below -269 °C, 4 Kelvin, -452 °F) where the calibration of sensors is less than trivial.
Based near Cambridge, Paragraf was a spin-out from the Department of Materials Science at Cambridge University. At its custom R&D facility, it produces the highest-quality large-area graphene, and develops step-change graphene-based technologies utilising its expertise in thin film materials production; solid state structure and device processing; and novel material product application
CERN’s Magnetic Measurement section is looking to perform more in-depth tests on the Hall effect sensors, with the eventual aim of using them to build a novel mapping system for magnetic fields.
Paragraf has perfected a proprietary process for depositing single-atom thick, two-dimensional materials, including graphene, directly onto silicon, silicon-carbide, sapphire, gallium-nitride and other semiconductor-compatible substrates. The contamination-free technology is scalable, and compatible with existing electronic device manufacturing processes.
Serving the sensor, energy harvesting and semiconductor markets, Paragraf has developed its own Hall-Effect Sensors for measuring magnetic fields in demanding environments. It is now partnering with electronic device makers to enable them to take advantage of the unique properties of graphene.
Paragraf graphene is directly compatible with existing electronic device processing and production lines, enabling readily scalable graphene electronic device production. Equally, Paragraf’s ability to highly functionalise graphene offers the potential for new energy harvesting ideas. These include using other environmental interactions and forces to create novel energy generation approaches.
The process enables graphene to be produced directly onto semiconductor-compatible substrates such as silicon, silicon-carbide, sapphire and gallium-nitride. It does not require catalytic formation of the graphene so eliminating metallic contamination and allows synthesis of large areas of the material (up to 8” diameter to date).
Graphene’s high transparency (only one atomic layer thick), outstanding flexibility, mechanical strength and exceptional conductivity make it particularly suitable for use in electronic device surface applications, such as interactive human interfaces (touchscreens); flexible mobile devices; surface contact for SSDs; and ITO replacement.
Full coverage with either pristine, functionalised or multi-layer graphene produces a surface with all the properties required for final product application. This combination of benefits eliminates several processing requirements – increasing productivity while reducing cost.
Paragraf and CERN will also be releasing a joint white paper communicating the work to date in more detail and showcasing the lack of planar Hall effect in Paragraf’s sensors, as well as detailing its high performance across a range of magnetic fields.
Paragraf’s graphene Hall effect sensors are available to lead partners in small volumes.
