However, Qingdao itself is the dominant producer.

Supported by its complete range of industries and strong industrial foundations, Qingdao has made significant research and development achievements in the field of graphene extraction.

Local companies and research institutes occupy a leading position in the graphene industry.

The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology adopted by Sunred Electronic Equipment Ltd, one of the professional semiconductor process equipment manufacturers based in Qingdao, realize the continuous production of graphene film on a large scale, producing a high quality product at low cost. A key state laboratory at Qingdao University has successfully isolated graphene by using the physical stripping method.

Qingdao has also had a good start in the market application of graphene.

Graphite lithium ion capacitor, developed by the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, has been applied to the production of electric bicycles. The production line of graphene conductive ink has been put into operation in Qingdao.

The International Graphene Innovation Center, the first of its kind in China, and the national demonstration base of graphene industrial innovation, were both set up by the Qingdao National High-tech Industrial Development Zone to attract more industry specialists, generate investment, and promote the development of advanced carbon and graphite material industries.

Though graphene is still largely unknown to the general public, the material, a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms, has the potential to change every aspect of Qingdao, a huge benefit for the prosperous coastal city.