Graphene-Info newsletter

Flash Graphene process modified to produce graphene from rubber waste

The “flash” process, introduced by Professor Tour and his colleagues at Rice University in 2020, has now been optimized to convert waste from rubber tires into graphene that can, in turn, be used to strengthen concrete.

The atoms reassemble into valuable turbostratic graphene, which has misaligned layers that are more soluble than graphene produced via exfoliation from graphite. That makes it easier to use in composite materials.

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics closes €14.3 million round

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics, spun-off from the Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and Icrea (and associated with the Graphene Flagship) , announced closing a $16.85 million round led by Asabys and Alta. The company has also received financial backing from Cdti and two international investors.

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics was established in 2019 with the mission of developing brain-implants based on graphene technology for applications in patients with epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and other neuronal diseases. These smart devices, built around an innovative graphene electrode, will decode with high certainty neural signals from the brain and produce a therapeutic response adapted to the clinical condition of the specific patient.

Inbrain Neuroelectronics is developing a minimally-invasive, intelligent neural interface that, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of big data, will have the ability to read and modulate brain activity, detect therapy-specific biomarkers, and trigger adaptive responses for optimal outcomes in personalized neurological therapies. The investment will enable the company to conduct trials and solidify the safety of graphene as a new standard of care and medical attention in neurotechnologies.

Inov-8 launches new graphene-enhanced trail running shoes

The collaboration between the University of Manchester and British sportswear brand Inov-8 started in 2017 and has already produced the G-Series range of graphene-enhanced shoes as well as a pair of hiking boots which utilize graphene, and also the X-Talon range of footwear. Now, Inov-8 has unveiled its latest trail running shoe, which is designed with new Graphene-enhanced foam.

The cushioned foam, called 'G-Fly’, features as part of inov-8’s Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max shoe - a product aimed at "ultra runners". Scientific tests reportedly show that the foam infused with graphene can deliver 25% greater energy return. It is also claimed to be far more resistant to compressive wear. The Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max, which weigh 300g and have a 6mm drop (heel to toe differential), are available to pre-order ahead of going on sale on April 8. The shoes are priced at £170.

Graphene oxide helps achieve efficient air processed perovskite solar cells via scalable technique

A research team, led by Dr. Luigi Angelo Castriotta at the at University of Rome Tor Vergata's CHOSE Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy, has reported impressive results on methylammonium free perovskites processed in air, using a scalable technique based on infrared annealing and potassium doped graphene oxide as an interlayer.

The team reached excellent efficiencies of 18.3% and 16.10% on 0.1cm2 cell and on 16cm2 module respectively, with enhanced stability compared to the standard multi cation reference. In this new work, the team demonstrated, for the first time, the use of double-cation perovskite (forsaking the unstable methylammonium (MA) cation) processed in ambient air by employing potassium-doped graphene oxide (GO-K) as an interlayer, between the mesoporous TiO2 and the perovskite layer and using infrared annealing (IRA).

Concrene announces plans for first graphene reinforced concrete product to hit the market

In July 2020, Thomas Swan signed an exclusive agency agreement with Concrene, for a graphene-enhanced concrete project. Now, Concrene has announced that the first commercial concrete product reinforced with graphene will be available on the US market in April 2021.

Fairview Hearthside, a licensee of the innovative nanotechnology, will manufacture a range of Concrene precast fire pits for private homes and professional outdoor venues. The fire pits offer enhanced durability, long outdoor performance and natural concrete finish.

A small amount of graphene, manufactured and supplied by Concrene's strategic industrial partner Thomas Swan, improves the hardening process of concrete, which results in a direct volume offset of cement, binders and steel reinforcement.

A new standard to help verify graphene materials

The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), in collaboration with international partners, announced a new ISO/IEC standard, ISO/TS 21356-1:2021, for measuring the structural properties of graphene, typically sold as powders or in a liquid dispersion. The ISO/IEC standard helps the supply chain to better define graphene materials (and distinguish them from other materials) and is based on methods developed with The University of Manchester in the NPL Good Practice Guide 145.

The continuation of the NPL-led standardization work within ISO TC229 (nanotechnologies) will allow the chemical properties of graphene related 2D materials to be determined, as well as the structural properties for different forms of graphene material, such as CVD-grown graphene.

Graphene-Info’s new CVD Graphene Market Report

Graphene-Info has launched a new market report, The CVD Graphene Market Report. The new report is a comprehensive guide to CVD graphene materials, the current industry and market status, and the promising applications in optoelectronics, bio-sensors, thermal solutions and more.

The report covers topics such as CVD graphene production methods, properties, applications, and more, and includes details on prominent CVD graphene research activities, a list of CVD graphene developers and their products, datasheets and brochures from over 10 different CVD graphene makers.

Applied Graphene Materials (AGM) has announced that its customer, Constellation Chemicals, has launched two new sealants in its car detailing product range enhanced with AGM’s graphene nanoplatelet technology.

India-based start-up Log 9 has announced the development of its new graphene-enhanced battery for electric vehicles.

UK-based Paragraf has announced a new graphene Hall Effect sensor, said to be ideally suited to battery applications, such as the electric vehicle (EV) sector.

Skeleton Technologies and Marubeni Corporation, one of Japan’s largest conglomerates, have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to support commercial scale-up and customer acquisition for Skeleton’s supercapacitors in the Asian automotive sector, with a strong focus on electrified vehicles and hydrogen transportation.

Skeleton Technologies announced plans to develop new production technology and fully automated manufacturing in its Großröhrsdorf factory, following the official support announced by German authorities.

South Korea's leading steel group, POSCO, will lead the creation of a graphene ecosystem in the southeastern industry port of Pohang in cooperation with research groups and Graphene Square.

Turkey-based nanomaterials producer Nanografi recently announced opening a new graphene production plant.

Haydale has announced that it has partnered with U.S-based 401 Tech Bridge to provide a HT200 Plasma Reactor and advanced materials support for their innovation ecosystem.

Talga Resources has reported a milestone moment in a sea trial of its Talcoat graphene coating.

South Korea-based Graphene Square has announced that it is preparing for an IPO to fuel global expansion.

An interdisciplinary research team has developed a method to produce graphene-enhanced hydrogels with an excellent level of electrical conductivity.

An international collaboration of researchers from Penn State and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China has resulted in a novel material for supercapacitors' electrodes.