Graphene-Info newsletter

planarTECH's graphene equity crowdfunding project is now live

UK-based planarTECH recently launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs, as part of Graphene-Info's Graphene Crowdfunding Arena. planarTECH aims to expand its current business and also initiate new graphene endeavors. Investors are now able to participate in this financing round, already at 39% only a few hours after launching!

planarTECH aims to expand its business by continuing to supply more R&D systems, initiate a system support service, start offering industrial-scale system (it already has strong interest from several potential customers) and also start producing CVD graphene materials, for which it already identified and engaged target customers. Finally, planarTECH is also seeing strong interest for its R&D systems for next-generation 2D materials (such as MoS2) which could be another growth area.

Investors can now participate in this campaign. The first step should be to join Seedrs as an investor (which will also enable the participation in future campaigns) and then to visit planarTECH’s investment page to read more about planarTECH and take part!.

Transparent graphene photodetectors enable advanced 3D camera

A team of researchers at the University of Michigan, led by Zhaohui Zhong, Jeffrey Fessler and Theodore Norris of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, has created a 3D camera made from a stack of transparent graphene photodetectors that can capture and focus on objects that are different distances away from the camera lens. The device may find use in applications as diverse as biological imaging, driverless cars and robotics.

An ideal imaging system would produce a complete representation of the 3D scene with an infinite depth of field in a single exposure. Such a device could be made of different detector arrays, each stacked along the path of the different incoming light rays. By then detecting multiple focal planes of data all at the same time, algorithms could be used to reconstruct a complete (“light field”) image of the scene in three dimensions, with each object in the scene being in focus. Furthermore, the distance to each object could be determined. Such range detection would be extremely useful for applications like driverless cars and robots.

Now, the University of Michigan team succeeded in building such a photodetecting device. Their new 3D camera uses a stack of transparent sensors made from graphene to simultaneously capture images that are focused on different distances from the camera lens. The researchers fabricated their photodetector on a transparent glass substrate (rather than the silicon chips usually employed in such devices) using graphene as the light-sensing layer, the conducting channel layer, the gate layer and even the interconnects (which are usually made of metal). Using graphene for all the different functional components of the device in this way allows for sensitive light detection and a transparency of around 95%.

Navigate the emerging graphene market

This is a sponsored article by Dr Richard Collins, IDTechEx

Graphene is on the cusp of significant market growth; the opportunities are exciting and diverse, each with significant potential. Graphene and 2D Materials Europe 2020 (13-14 May, Berlin) is the largest B2B event on the topic with a dedicated focus on the commercial frontiers.

There is often confusion surrounding the types of graphene, commercial status, and their target markets. This article will briefly summarise each and showcase what to expect at this event. To read it, click here.

Graphene amplifier may tap into the "terahertz gap"

Researchers from Loughborough University have created a unique graphene-based device which may unlock the elusive terahertz wavelengths and make revolutionary new technologies possible.

Terahertz waves (THz) are located between microwaves and infrared in the light frequency spectrum, but due to their low energy, scientists have been unable to harness their potential. This issue is known as the "terahertz gap". Being able to detect and amplify THz waves (T-rays) could open the door to new medical, communications, satellite, cosmological and other technologies. One major application would be as a safe, non-destructive alternative to X-rays.

New graphene-based material to increase recording density of data storage devices

An international group of Russian and Japanese scientists recently developed a graphene-based material that might significantly increase the recording density in data storage devices, such as SSDs and flash drives. Among the main advantages of the material is the absence of rewrite limit, which will allow implementing new devices for Big Data processes.

The international group of scientists from National University of Science and Technology MISIS (Russia) and National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (Japan) developed the material using a combination of graphene and the semi-metallic Heusler alloy Co2FeGaGe. Previously, graphene was not used in magnetic memory devices as carbon atoms reacted with the magnetic layer, which led to changes in its properties. By careful selection of the Heusler alloy composition, as well as the methods of its application, it was possible to create a thinner sample compared to previous analogues. This, in turn, will significantly increase the capacity of magnetic memory devices without increasing their physical size.

G6 Materials Corp. (formerly known as "Graphene 3D Lab) has announced the start of a new green-energy focused collaboration with Gilman Industries, a company focused on commercializing its hydrogen-producing technology.

Scientists from Chung-Ang University, Korea, led by Prof Hyungbin SonKorea, have observed a unique way in which graphene forms a hybrid layer that prevents copper corrosion.

Micro Powders, in collaboration with Garmor, recently launched GraphShield 730, a next-generation graphene-based anti corrosion additive for powder coating applications.

Scientists from University College London and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have proposed a graphene-based design for supercapacitors, which reportedly increased their density by 10 times.

Scientists at Rice University, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT Knoxville) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have demonstrated the use of a very small visible beam to burn graphene into microscopic patterns.

Directa Plus has won a second contract for its graphene-enhanced oil contaminant treatment Grafysorber through subsidiary Setcar.

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) has selected three projects to receive approximately USD$3 million in federal funding for cost-shared R&D projects - among which is a laboratory-scale coal-derived graphene process.

Grapheal has developed an innovative graphene-based wearable patch for the remote monitoring of chronic wounds.

ZEN Graphene Solutions has announced that it plans to open its new pilot plant and research and development facility in Guelph, Canada on March 3, 2020.