BGI Visits Westlake University for Graphene Cryo-EM Grid Collaboration

On May 7, Professor Peng Hailin, Vice President of the Beijing Graphene Institute (BGI) and Vice Dean of the College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering at Peking University, led a delegation to visit Westlake University at the invitation of Academician Shi Yigong, President of Westlake University, Vice President of the China Association for Science and Technology, and a renowned structural biologist. The visit focused on in-depth discussions surrounding graphene cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM) grids.

During the visit, Prof. Peng expressed BGI's gratitude for the support provided by Westlake University and introduced the history, material development, and industrialization progress of BGI. He emphasized that BGI has been dedicated to the research and development of graphene materials and their industrial applications, recently launching several flagship products, including graphene Cryo-EM grids, aimed at addressing critical scientific challenges in China.

At the invitation of Westlake University, Dr. Zheng Liming, Chief Technical Expert of the Graphene Cryo-EM Grid Division at BGI, and Dr. Liu Nan from Tsinghua University delivered academic reports. They discussed the preparation of graphene thin-film materials and graphene grids, as well as their applications in Cryo-EM, sharing the latest research and development achievements in ultra-flat graphene film transfer technology and graphene Cryo-EM support films.

Academician Shi Yigong warmly welcomed Prof. Peng and his team, providing an overview of the development of Westlake University's life sciences disciplines. He highly praised BGI’s high-quality graphene production processes and graphene Cryo-EM grid products, expressing hope for deeper collaboration to address more scientific challenges in life sciences using graphene materials.

At the end of the visit, Prof. Peng and Fu Yunqiao, General Manager of the Graphene Cryo-EM Grid Division at BGI, presented commemorative gifts to Westlake University, including the book *The Life of Carbon*, inscribed by Academician Liu Zhongfan, and BGI's graphene-powered heated eye masks. The event was attended by Westlake University experts Zhou Qiang, Shen Huaizong, Wu Jianping, Yan Zhen, Wan Ruixue, and others, along with Qu Limin, Deputy General Manager of BGI’s Graphene Cryo-EM Grid Division.