Graphene-Info newsletter

Rolls-Royce to work with Verasrien and Manchester's GEIC on graphene-enhanced aerospace applications

Rolls-Royce is to work with the University of Manchester’s Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) and its partner Versarien on the use of graphene and other 2D materials used in wiring for next-generation aerospace engine systems.

The initial program of work will use the state-of-the-art chemical vapor deposition (CVD) equipment located within the GEIC. The companies will seek to use the unique properties of these 2D materials to reduce the weight of electrical components, improve electrical performance and also increase resistance to corrosion of components in future engine systems.

NRC launches graphene-enhanced sports glasses

Italian sports equipment maker NRC launched new sports sunglasses that have a graphene-enhanced frame. NRC says that the graphene increases the durability, flexibility and lightness of the frame - and so enabled NRC to design glasses that "perform far beyond all limits".

The EVEREST series of sunglasses are now shipping for €215 in Europe - and can be found on Amazon.

Mercedes-Benz develops battery based on organic cell chemistry, graphene and a water-based electrolyte

Mercedes-Benz has reportedly created a compostable battery using organic cell chemistry, graphene and a water-based electrolyte. The battery is free of rare-earth and toxic metals, which means it can biodegrade without polluting the environment.

Mercedes-Benz' head of battery tech, Andreas Hintennach, said that while the tech is very promising, "we don't see that it's close to being used in production technology for now... It's around 15-20 years away". The new batteries can hold more charge than current lithium-ion packs and charge faster to boot, with claims that 0-100 percent charge times can be as low as 15 minutes.

New graphene biosensor can detect SARS-CoV-2 in under a minute

Korean researchers have developed a graphene-based field-effect transistor-based biosensor that detects SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs from patients with COVID-19, in less than one minute.

Current diagnostic tests for COVID-19 take at least 3 hours, so the team wanted to develop a faster test that could analyze patient samples directly from a tube of buffer containing the swabs, without any sample preparation steps.

The team based their test on a field-effect transistor using a sheet of graphene with high electronic conductivity. Without any sample preparation, the sensor could discriminate between samples from sick and healthy patients. The new test was about 2-4 times less sensitive than RT-PCR, but different materials could be explored to improve the signal-to-noise ratio, the researchers say.

Talga and Bentley Motors to develop graphene-enhanced motor parts

Talga Resources, battery anode and graphene additives developer, has announced that it has been approved for Innovate UK co-funding to support development of an e-axle designed for Bentley Motors.

The OCTOPUS project aims to deliver the ultimate single unit e-axle solution designed specifically to meet Bentley Motors performance specifications via optimized motor and power electronics technology and materials.

Under the project Talga will develop and provide graphene materials for the high performance electric motor windings to deliver an aluminium-based solution aimed at outperforming, and ultimately replacing, the copper windings currently used.

Graphene-Info updates all its graphene market report

New versions of all our graphene market reports, updated to April 2020, are now available. Graphene-Info provides comprehensive market reports focused on specific areas of graphene research and industry.

Among these reports are: The Graphene Batteries Market Report, The Graphene Supercapacitors Market Report, The Graphene Oxide Market Report, The Graphene for the Display and Lighting Industries Report and The Graphene Investment Guide.

A team of researchers from the University of Oxford, Delft University and IBM Zurich has demonstrated that graphene can be used to build sensitive and self-powering temperature sensors.

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati claim they have developed a graphene-based "superhydrophobic" material that can separate oil and water.

UK-based planarTECH has announced an extension to its existing agreement with Thailand-based IDEATI to include the marketing and distribution of its 2AM-branded graphene-enhanced antibacterial face masks.

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel are developing a new type of graphene-enhanced air-filter that self-sterilizes and decontaminates based on water filtration technology.

Grolltex has teamed up with Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute to develop a graphene-based virus testing platform to help combat COVID-19.

G6 Materials has developed a graphene-based air purification tech that could help fight the virus.

ZEN Graphene Solutions has announced an international collaboration with UK-based Graphene Composites to fight COVID-19 by developing a potential virucidal graphene-based composite ink that can be applied to fabrics.

Researchers from AECC Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials (AECC BIAM) have developed a new type of face mask with graphene material on the key filter layer.

Italy-based Kemind has developed new graphene-enhanced glue concepts that have been applied to its corrugating production process. It is reported that the new glue increases production efficiency, reduces costs and improves quality for several of Kemind's corrugated board products.

Scientists from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) and their colleagues have used multi-functional graphene to develop a medical technology that allows for targeted cancer treatment at the molecular level.