Ora, a Canada-based start-up that develops graphene-enhanced audio equipment, has brought to market a graphene oxide-based composite material, grapheneQ. The speaker cones could extend battery life on portable devices by up to 50 percent. Grapheneq is a membrane that is 98 percent graphene by weight, bonded together with oxygen and other additives to form a laminate material.
Researchers at the National Research Council Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (CNR-ISOF) in Italy, which is part of Europe’s Graphene Flagship, have developed a graphene-based near-field communication (NFC) antenna. Watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKzfd1HCFN8
Researchers from Fujitsu have developed a new novel graphene-enhanced gas sensor device. They have developed a gas sensor that operates on a new principle, in which the gate part of a silicon transistor is replaced by graphene. This sensor can detect concentrations lower than tens of parts per billion (ppb) of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ammonia (NH3); with nitrogen dioxide in particular, sensitivity has improved more than tenfold, to less than 1 ppb. When a gas molecule adheres to the graphene, the graphene’s work function(2) changes, and the result is that there is a major change in the switching characteristics of the silicon transistor. It is this principle that enables a gas to be detected. When the gas molecule separates from the graphene, the graphene returns to its original state.
This technology is expected to enable real-time measurements of air quality, which may have taken tens of hours depending upon the gas being measured. It will also simplify detection of gas components in breath, which can be used to quickly discover lifestyle diseases.
A sensor based on this principle has been created that measures a few tens of ppb of ammonia and less than 1 ppb of NO2 in a nitrogen environment.
Researchers at Rice University have surmised that 2-D material borophene may be more suitable than graphene for flexible electronics applications. The lab observed examples of naturally undulating, metallic Borophene and suggest that transferring it onto an elastic surface would preserve the material’s stretchability along with its useful electronic properties. The researchers state that graphene is too stiff for devices that also need to stretch, compress or even twist.
Researchers in the EU consortium Graphene Flagship have successfully created an all-electrical quantum light emitting diode (LED) with single-photon emission constructed of graphene, boron nitride, and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). These LEDs have potential as on-chip photon sources in quantum information applications, although this is still some way off from commercial development.
Professor Mete Atatüre from the Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, the lead researchers in the project said “Ultimately, in a scalable circuit, we need fully integrated devices that we can control by electrical impulses, instead of a laser that focuses on different segments of an integrated circuit. For quantum communication with single photons, and quantum networks between different nodes – for example, to couple qubits – we want to be able to just drive current, and get light out. There are many emitters that are optically excitable, but only a handful are electrically driven” In their devices, a modest current of less than 1 µA ensures that the single-photon behaviour dominates the emission characteristics. The layered structure of TMDs makes them ideal for use in ultra-thin heterostructures for use on chips, and also adds the benefit of atomically precise layer interfacing. The researchers said that not only have they demonstrated controllable photon sources, but have also shown that the field of quantum technologies can greatly benefit from layered materials.
Jonathan Claussen’s lab at Iowa State University has developed a laser-treatment process that allows them to use printed graphene for electric circuits and electrodes. Using a pulsed-laser process, the researchers found that the electrical conductivity of inkjet-printed, multi-layer graphene electric circuits and electrodes was improved without damaging paper, polymers or other fragile printing surfaces. “This creates a way to commercialize and scale-up the manufacturing of graphene and paves the way for paper-based electronics with graphene circuits and electrochemical electrodes”” Claussen said. Further information is available at http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2016/NR/C6NR04310K#!divAbstract
Chinese mobile phone multi-national Huawei has announced a major breakthrough in its research into Li-ion batteries, unveiling the world’s first long-lifespan graphene-assisted Li-ion battery able to withstand high temperatures. The announcement was made by Watt Laboratory, an organization under Huawei’s Central Research Institute, at the 57th Battery Symposium held in Japan.
Huawei’s research results show that new graphene-assisted heat-resistant technologies allow Li-ion batteries to remain functional in a 60°C environment, a temperature 10°C higher than the existing upper limit. The lifespan of the graphene-assisted Li-ion batteries will also be twice as long as ordinary Li-ion batteries.
Dr. Yangxing Li, Chief Scientist at Watt Laboratory, pointed out that three technologies contributed to the breakthrough in the graphene-assisted high-temperature Li-ion battery. First, a special additive in the electrolytes can remove trace water and prevent the electrolytes from decomposition in high temperatures. Second, modified large-crystal NMC materials are used for the cathode, improving the thermal stability of the cathode powder. Third, graphene allows for more efficient cooling of the Li-ion battery.
At the 56th Battery Symposium also held in Japan in 2015, Huawei’s Watt Laboratory revealed its quick charging technology, which recharges 48% of a 3000mAh battery in just 5 minutes. This technology turned many heads. According to Dr. Li, Huawei has commercialized the developed quick charging batteries and will announce a super-quick charging mobile phone in late December. See more at: https://youtu.be/OceA8Wye71M
