Graphene-Info newsletter

LG Electronics to start offering CVD graphene materials

According to recent information, LG Electronics is aiming to start supplying CVD graphene materials worldwide soon, with an aim to accelerate the adoption of CVD graphene in various applications. LG is collaborating with research groups to identify new applications for graphene sheets.

LG Electronics developed its own roll-to-roll production process in addition to a specific quality control system for its graphene. LG says that its inspection system can manage uniformity deviations in crystal size, defects and electrical properties in its graphene to within 10%.

Newly launched graphene-enhanced sanitary napkins enjoy great success in the US

Jewel Sanitary Napkins (JSN), a U.S-based company, launched its graphene-enhanced sanitary napkins on June 1st, 2019. In the several months since then (at the time of writing this article), the Company reportedly made over $600,000 from selling the $6 product.

The sanitary napkins come in four variations: very light panty liners, moderate flow sanitary napkins, heavy flow sanitary napkins and super heavy flow sanitary napkins. The graphene, said by the company to be a proprietary blend, is found in a single strip placed in the center of the pad (pad design can be viewed at jewelpads.com). JSN states that the graphene in the pads bestows many benefits, such as helping with dysmenorrhea (painful abdominal cramps), fatigue, metabolism, bacteria, aroma, immune system and moving heat away from the core.

In addition, reports suggest that the customer experience has been superb as the Company received numerous rave reviews from more than 25,000 women that have had a chance to use the Jewel Sanitary Napkins (testimonies can be viewed at jewelpads.com).

Graphene oxide to help regenerate cartilage

Researchers from the University of Manchester have found that incorporating graphene oxide into three-dimensional scaffolds that support regenerating cartilage could offer a new means of delivering vital growth factors.

For the first time, a team of researchers led by Judith A. Hoyland has incorporated transforming growth factor beta-3 (TGF-beta 3) absorbed onto flakes of graphene oxide (GO) into a collagen hydrogel. GO can absorb a wide variety of biological molecules onto its surface and has great potential as a carrier of active agents.

The researchers believe that their approach has a number of advantages. The preparation of the hydrogel containing growth-factor-loaded GO is simple and straightforward. Meanwhile, the large surface area of GO means that only small quantities are needed to equal a similar amount of growth factor supplied externally. The ability of GO to retain TGF-beta 3 means that a slow release rate can be maintained over an extended time period. Moreover, the GO itself appears to be nontoxic to hMSCs.

ICFO designs new graphene-based flexible and transparent wearable health trackers

ICFO researchers have demonstrated a new class of graphene-based flexible and transparent wearable devices that are conformable to the skin and can provide continuous and accurate measurements of multiple human vital signs.

These devices can measure heart rate, respiration rate and blood pulse oxygenation, as well as exposure to UV radiation from the sun. While the device measures the different parameters, the read-out is visualized and stored on a mobile phone interface connected to the wearable via Bluetooth. In addition, the device can operate battery-free since it is charged wirelessly through the phone.

ICFO’s advanced light sensing technology has implemented two types of nanomaterials: graphene and a light absorbing layer made of quantum dots. The demonstrated technology brings a new form factor and design freedom to the wearables’ field, making graphene-quantum-dots-based devices a strong platform for product developers. Dr. Antonios Oikonomou, business developer at ICFO emphasized this by stating that “The booming wearables industry is eagerly looking to increase fidelity and functionality of its offerings. Our graphene-based technology platform answers this challenge with a unique proposition: a scalable, low-power system capable of measuring multiple parameters while allowing the translation of new form factors into products.”

Korean scientists develop graphene electrode to enable next-gen perovskite solar cells

Several research institutions in South Korea are actively conducting research and development on next-generation solar cells, heightening expectations for commercialization. The research team led by Prof. Yoon Soon-gil of Chungnam National University has developed a new graphene electrode to produce perovskite solar cells at a low temperature. In addition, the team led by Prof. Choi Kyoung-jin of the School of Materials Science and Engineering at UNIST has developed a new concept tandem solar cell using transparent conductive adhesives (TCA).

The graphene electrode developed by Professor Yoon’s team can help create a perovskite solar cell at a low temperature and can raise both safety and economic efficiency. The research team grew large-scale graphene by absorbing carbon from titanium buffer layers which are 10 nm thick at below 100 degrees Celsius. The perovskite solar cell manufactured with the transfer-free method has improved efficiency by 14.2% and transparency by 26% compared to graphene solar cells made with the mass transfer process.

The graphene solar cell made with the mass transfer method saw its efficiency decrease 20% from the initial value after it was used for 500 hours. However, the new graphene electrode produced with a transfer-free method showed only a 13% lower efficiency and a 7% higher safety in terms of flexibility than the graphene solar cell after 1,000 bending cycles.

Innovative graphene-based retinal implants to restore vision, part of the project Adaptive Retinal Implant Technology for Vision Restoration (i-VISION), have been awarded a million euro “la Caixa” Health Research Grant.

XG Sciences has announced commercial adoption of its products for use in HELLA’s engine oil.

Researchers from Peter the Great St.Petersburg Polytechnic University have found out the structures in nanomaterials made of ceramic and graphene plates, in which cracks appear most frequently. The suggested model may help in the creation of crack-resistant materials.

A new study from Queen Mary University of London finds that graphene is in fact a 3D material, as well as a 2D material.

BioMed X has announced the completion of its first research collaboration project with Roche Diagnostics in the field of nanomaterial-based biosensors for near patient testing.

Physicists from the University of Groningen constructed a two-dimensional spin transistor, in which spin currents were generated by an electric current through graphene.

A research team jointly led by the University of Warwick and EMPA has tackled a challenging issue of stability and reproducibility in working with graphene, that meant that graphene-based junctions were either mechanically stable or electrically stable but not both at the same time.

CEO of MITO Material Solutions, a U.S-based nano-additive solutions provider, answers Graphene-Info’s questions on MITO’s status, products and plans for the future.