BeDimensional, a company engaged in the industrial production of two-dimensional materials, presents an innovative graphene paint capable of generating heat through electrical power, creating a thin, integrable radiant heating system with no mechanical components.
The performance of the solution has been certified by a team of professors from the University of Genoa, involved through the University’s spin-off BuildTech, at the conclusion of a development project launched in 2023, which involved numerous technical tests and simulations that demonstrated its high thermal conductivity, ease of installation and, above all, significant reduction in consumption: up to 40% on average compared to traditional radiators, competitive with heat pumps, and offering improvements in terms of installation and maintenance costs.
Once applied and connected to simple copper electrodes, graphene paint generates heat thanks to the Joule effect. The system diffuses heat evenly and silently by radiation, allowing for stable and uniform heat distribution without stratification. The emission occurs via long-wave infrared, a low-energy, non-harmful radiation that is not dispersed in the heating of the air but acts directly on the body, generating a pleasant sensation of thermal well-being.
It is installed like normal paint and adapts perfectly to common building materials, from plasterboard to sandwich panels, offering maximum application versatility.
Tests conducted by BuildTech on the technology developed by BeDimensional and applied to various substrates such as plasterboard, PVC sandwich panels and polyurethane confirmed the electrical stability of the system, the consistency between power consumption and temperature obtained, and a rapid response to current variations. At full capacity, the surface temperature can exceed 110 °C with an average consumption of only 35 W/m², making the technology ideal for heating buildings with low energy consumption.
Graphene paint was also subjected to simulations on a building scale, to compare it directly with a heat pump-powered underfloor heating system. The results showed that the graphene system was more energy efficient, with lower annual energy consumption, lower operating costs and no maintenance required.
In addition to its energy benefits, graphene paint improves living comfort by directly heating interior surfaces. Its versatility allows it to be used in both new construction and renovation projects, in residential, commercial and industrial settings. It is particularly suitable for critical environments such as bathrooms, kitchens or basements, where direct heating of internal surfaces helps prevent condensation and mould formation. The technology is also suitable for modular applications, prefabricated buildings and lightweight constructions with low inertia.
Furthermore, the absence of mechanical components and ease of installation reduce costs and installation times, offering new opportunities to manufacturers of paints, building materials and HVAC systems, with a significant improvement in acoustic comfort in rooms. This system, with no visible radiators or units, offers designers complete aesthetic freedom and more orderly and functional environments.
With this project, BeDimensional confirms its ability to transfer its technical know-how into concrete industrial applications, enabled by the industrial-scale production capacity of its two-dimensional crystals. Graphene paint is now a tangible example of how 2D materials can profoundly innovate key sectors such as construction, contributing to the creation of more efficient, sustainable and technologically advanced buildings.
This innovation is perfectly aligned with European and national energy transition and emissions reduction targets, confirming BeDimensional’s commitment to decarbonisation and sustainable industrial development.
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