Graphene thermal conductivity

GrapheneUP®, an industry vanguard in manufacturing verified few-layer graphene and a diverse array of graphene-centric intermediary products, announces the debut of MASTERGUP® — an innovative line of thermoplastic masterbatches. This breakthrough harnesses the transformative potential of graphene, setting a new benchmark for sustainability and recyclability within multiple sectors.

Graphene, distinguished by its exceptional strength and conductivity, imparts enhanced thermoplastic properties, including mechanical robustness, thermal stability, and gas barrier properties. These advancements extend the lifespan of products and significantly reduce waste, thereby contributing to more excellent environmental stewardship. Moreover, incorporating the graphene GUP® into thermoplastic matrices elevates processability, streamlining the molding, reshaping, and recycling processes. GUP®-fortified thermoplastics demonstrate remarkable endurance through repeated recycling, mitigating material degradation — a commendable achievement in material sustainability.

A trial is underway in 45 social housing groups across the UK that could revolutionize the way we heat our homes, especially those that have long battled with issues like heat leakage and inefficient insulation. A graphene-enhanced infrared wallpaper, developed by NexGen Heating, is being tested in a project targeting social housing and older properties that are notoriously hard to insulate.

By infusing wallpaper with graphene, NexGen Heating has created a product that emits infrared heat, warming objects and people directly in a manner reminiscent of sunlight. This direct form of heating is not only efficient but also customizable to fit the aesthetics of any room, promising an unobtrusive addition to homes. Furthermore, the potential for integration with solar panels and batteries could make this a cornerstone of sustainable living, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels. NexGen Heating says infrared can provide greener, cheaper heating when paired with solar panels and batteries. 

Researchers at  Monash University Malaysia and Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology have studied how graphene and graphene derivatives could be used as materials to reduce the operating temperature of solar panels. They reviewed the limitations and potential of solar module cooling techniques based on graphene and found that high costs and graphene treatments are the main challenges to overcome.

In a recent in-depth review, the team explained that graphene has attracted the interest of the scientific community as a medium to enhance heat transfers in cooling systems. When used for PV cooling applications, graphene can be used in different ways. For example, as a selective absorber coating or embedding it into a working fluid as a nanofluid. Graphene nanoparticles can also be added to thermal interface materials (TIMs) or phase change materials (PCMs) used for solar module cooling. 

Researchers at the University of Sussex and the University of Brighton have presented their recent work on thermoelectric capture, using highly conductive graphene sheets, which aims to improve technologies that capture and convert heat into electricity and tackle the barriers standing before these methods. The aims to advance the possibility of cheap, sustainable technologies for heat capture and conversion – as well as reach a new understanding of how conductivity in graphene-based nanomaterials can be best exploited.

The team assembled nanomaterial networks of varying density and size, from few to many layers of graphene sheets, then measured electrical conductivity as the different arrays were exposed to heat. Their expectation was that the assemblies of larger, thicker sheets would exhibit the highest levels of conductivity but in fact, the opposite outcome was observed, where the smaller, thinner sheets spontaneously formed dense-packed arrays, and performed better than the many-layered samples. 

Haydale has announced the award of a SMART Flexible Innovation Support Grant ("SMART FIS") from the Welsh Government, to accelerate development of ultra-efficient, graphene infused heat transfer fluids.  This support will assist in the development and proof of concept of scientific innovations, in a commercial setting.

Hydratech, a division of Liquitherm Technologies Group and longtime manufacturer of aqueous-based heat transfer fluids, have been awarded a collaborative SMART FIS to work in partnership with Haydale on the project.

Purdue researchers have examined graphene's thermal properties and found they may not be as revolutionary as previously thought. 

Graphene is often touted as the world's best heat conductor, surpassing diamond - which was previously thought to be able to transfer the most heat the quickest. Diamond’s thermal conductivity is generally understood to be about 2,000 W/(m K). But when scientists started measuring graphene’s thermal conductivity, early estimates reached above 5,000 W/(m K). However, subsequent experimental measurements and modeling have refined graphene’s thermal conductivity and brought the number down to around 3,000, which is still quite better than diamond. The Purdue team focused n this graphene property and found something altogether different.

TeamGroup has announced that its portfolio of high-speed solid state drives (SSDs) is expanding, with the launch of four new models, including the T-Force G70 Pro, T-Force G70, T-Force G50 Pro, and T-Force G50. 

TEAMGROUP’s new T-Force G70, G70 Pro, G50 and G50 Pro are the company’s latest SSDs available in the M.2 2280 format. Each of these SSDs comes fitted with patented ultra-thin graphene heatsinks, however the G70 Pro is also available with an aluminium alloy heatsink that also fits within the PS5 SSD expansion slot.

Rumors suggest that the iPhone 16 may use a graphene heat sink and a metal battery case to promote better heat transfer.

This follows complaints by iPhone 15 users about overheating, which Apple fixed via software, but the iPhone 16 is rumored to have a hardware solution, too. Apple associated the overheating with poorly optimized software and issued a software fix, but more effective cooling may also help.

MSI, a leading manufacturer of gaming hardware, has announced it will be expanding its QD-OLED gaming monitor lineup. The new monitors will reportedly make use of graphene's thermal conductivity in its heat management technology. 

All models will be equipped with the latest generation of QD-OLED panels and will be available in both curved and flat models. Among other thing, the new monitors will enjoy a fan-less design, enhanced with graphene thermal tech for efficient and silent heat dispersion. This further extends the lifespan of these innovative QD-OLED panels.

Graphene Manufacturing Group (GMG) has provided a business update on the commercialization progress of THERMAL-XR powered by GMG Graphene.

GMG has announced it has received forward orders of over AU$400k (around USD$255,000) for THERMAL-XR from various distributors and customers worldwide. Most of the value of these orders is conditional on the in-country approval for the THERMAL-XR to be imported from Australia and sold into that country for the product's initial launch.