The Graphene-Info newsletter, September 2018
Published: Tue, 09/04/18
Graphene-Info interviews Ari Pinkas, co-founder of ORA Graphene Audio
Graphene has many potential applications in the audio industry, and many companies have recently released graphene-enhanced audio devices (including headphones, earphones and interconnects).
Ari Pinkas, the co-founder of Ora Graphene Audio, was kind enough to answer a few questions we had for him regarding the audio industry, graphene adoption, and the company's own graphene oxide based driver technology.
Carbon nanotubes help create reinforced graphene "rebar"
Rice University researchers found that fracture-resistant “rebar graphene” is more than twice as tough as pristine graphene. While on the two-dimensional scale, graphene is stronger than steel, its extremely thin nature makes it subject to ripping and tearing. Rebar graphene is the nanoscale analog of rebar (reinforcement bars) in concrete, in which embedded steel bars enhance the material’s strength and durability. Rebar graphene, developed by the Rice lab of chemist James Tour in 2014, uses carbon nanotubes for reinforcement.
In a new study, Rice scientists stress-tested rebar graphene and found that nanotube rebar diverted and bridged cracks that would otherwise propagate in unreinforced graphene. The experiments showed that the CNTs help graphene stay "stretchy" and also reduce the effects of cracks. That could be useful not only for flexible electronics but also electrically active wearables or other devices where stress tolerance, flexibility, transparency and mechanical stability are desired.
Graphene-skinned aircraft is given first airing
Scientists recently unveiled Juno: a three-and-a-half-meter wide graphene-skinned aircraft that was given its first public airing on the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) stand as part of the ‘Futures Day’ at Farnborough Air Show. Haydale supplied the enhanced prepreg material used to make the Juno.
The unmanned vehicle was developed in a partnership between Haydale, an aerospace engineering team from the University of Central Lancashire, the Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Center and the University of Manchester's National Graphene Institute. The partners have been working on the project to get the super lightweight plane ready for action.
Haydale stated that the material it had developed for the aircraft had potential value for fuselage and wing surfaces in larger scale aerospace applications as well as for the drone market, adding that the use of nanoparticles in the material would improve electrical conductivity for lightning-strike protection as well as saving weight. The Company added that the technology also had performance benefits for a wide range of applications including offshore wind turbines, marine industries, oil and gas, and electronics and control systems.
G6-Epoxy: A new generation of graphene-enhanced electrically conductive adhesives offers competitive advantages
The following is taken from a sponsored post by Graphene LabsA new product line of Electrically Conductive Adhesives (ECAs) was recently introduced by Graphene 3D Lab. Graphene additives for ECA utilize both the outstanding conductivity and mechanical strength of GNPs, helping them to improve the bond strength of the adhesive. The new G6-Epoxy line of ECAs have exceptional electrical characteristics and are more cost effective in comparison to silver-based counterparts. G6-Epoxy offers highly conductive adhesives based on the proprietary combination of carbon and silver fillers along with other additives.
ECAs are commonly used as a replacement for traditional tin-lead solders, especially for mounting heat sensitive electronic components and for applications where the use of solder is not practical, such as connecting conductive glass in displays and for use in solar cell panels. The fast-growing demand of these adhesives is driven by the ever-increasing use of OLED displays, flexible electronics, and renewable energy sources. Graphene nanoplatelets could help to resolve many of the drawbacks of traditional ECAs. Adding graphene to the adhesive formulation improves the mechanical performance of the matrix resin. Moreover, graphene nanoplatelets make conductive bridges between the silver particles thereby reducing the load of silver needed to attain conductivity.
Vollebak launches a graphene-enhanced jacket
Vollebak, a sports gear manufacturer with an affinity towards using next-gen materials and technologies, is now selling (for 595 euros!) a graphene-enhanced jacket that according to the company, can perform functions like absorbing heat and then warming you up over time, conducting electricity, repelling bacteria, and dissipating your body’s excess humidity.
The process of developing Vollebak’s jacket, according to the company’s cofounders, brothers Steve and Nick Tidball, took years of intensive research. The jacket is reportedly made out of a two-sided material, which the company invented during the extensive R&D process. The graphene side is gray, while the other side appears matte black. To create it, the scientists turned raw graphite into graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) that were then blended with polyurethane to create a membrane. That, in turn, is bonded to nylon to form the other side of the material, which Vollebak says alters the properties of the nylon itself. “Adding graphene to the nylon fundamentally changes its mechanical and chemical properties–a nylon fabric that couldn’t naturally conduct heat or energy, for instance, now can,” the company claims.
The company says that the jacket is also reversible so it is possible to enjoy graphene’s properties in different ways as the material interacts with either your skin or the outside world. Vollebak also says the graphene layer will equalize your natural body temperature by redistributing heat from warm parts of your body to colder areas. The material disperses any extra humidity, too, and the jacket design itself contains no seams. Its pieces–which are laser-cut to avoid waste–are thermally sealed, instead. If moisture does end up inside, the graphene material will halt any buildup of bacteria since it can’t reproduce on its surface. In addition to being bacteriostatic, the company claims, the graphene layer is “hypoallergenic, anti-static, and certified as nontoxic”. The jacket also conducts electricity, although Vollebak had to reduce this property to make it safe.
Meet the Graphene-Info team at Graphene Week 2018
Organized by the Graphene Flagship, Graphene Week is the annual gathering for graphene technology leaders. The Graphene Flagship is organizing an ambitious program this year that includes invited talks and keynote speakers, as well as a growing industrial exhibition.
The Graphene-Info team will attend this exciting event, which takes place on September 10-14, in San Sebastian, Spain. let us know!
Rumors suggest that Huawei's Honor Magic 2 will use a graphene-based battery
According to the latest rumors, Huawei's upcoming Honor Magic 2 smartphone (that will be launched in December 2018) will feature a graphene-enhanced battery, made by Huawei itself. Interestingly, Huawei's graphene battery will have about 45% of the capacity compared to regular Li-Ion ones, but it will be able to charge extremely fast - in about 12 minutes (for a 3,000 mAh battery). The graphene battery is almost double that of a Li-Ion one.
These are just rumors at this stage, and we have no way to verify them. We do know that Huawei has been working on graphene technologies for a long time, and has even launched a commercial graphene-enhanced battery in 2016 - in which the graphene is used to extend the battery's operational temperature range.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin and Seoul National University have successfully developed an ultrathin artificial retina, based on graphene and molybdenum disulfide.
The Eu REACH graphene consortium announced that the joint registration dossiers for graphene and graphene oxide have been submitted to the ECHA.
Researchers at The University of Manchester and TWI have discovered ways of using graphene to prolong the lifetime of pipes used in the oil and gas industry.
Verditek is raising GBP 2 million (USD $2.57 million), pre-expenses, for its new solar factory in Italy and a graphene project.
A*STAR researchers have found that incorporating organic materials into lithium ion batteries could lower their cost and make them more environmentally friendly. The team has developed an organic-based battery cathode that has significantly improved electrochemical performance compared to previous organic cathode materials. The new material is also robust, remaining stable over thousands of battery charge/discharge cycles.
Graphene Flagship Partners at the National Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT) in Italy, IMEC in Belgium and University of Cambridge in UK have designed and tested a graphene-based phase modulator that reportedly outperforms existing silicon-based ones.
Versarien has announced that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with AXIA Materials to develop graphene-enhanced composite materials and smart graphene devices using both Versarien's proprietary Nanene graphene nano platelets and proprietary Graphinks graphene inks.
Talga Resources has advised that it has signed a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) with BillerudKorsnäs, a Sweden-based multinational packaging company to jointly explore the potential benefits of incorporating a Talga graphene (Talphene) product into a BillerudKorsnäs packaging application.
Archer Exploration, in collaboration with The University of Adelaide, has developed graphene-based conductive inks derived from Archer’s Campoona graphite deposit.
Aselsan, a leading Turkish defense company that produces military radios and defense electronic systems for the Turkish Armed Forces, has reportedly designed graphene-based OLED screen prototypes with what is said by the Company to be the highest pixel resolution yet achieved.
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