Graphene-Info: the graphene experts

Researchers at Clemson University in the U.S have designed a prototype Aluminum-ion battery (AIB) that uses a graphene electrode to intercalate tetrachloroaluminate (AlCl4–). The researchers have used the device to investigate the effect of defects and doping on battery performance.

Aluminum-ion batteries are gaining recognition in the scientific community as a potential alternative to Li-ion battery systems, but so far there have been many obstacles. Unlike in LIBs, where the mobile ion is Li+, aluminum forms a complex with chloride in most electrolytes and generates an anionic mobile charge carrier, usually AlCl4– or Al2Cl7–. The team at Clemson University's Nanomaterials Institute have elucidated the intercalation mechanism of the AlCl4– anion in graphene electrodes, and provided a unique insight into the influence of defects and doping on the intercalation process.

Shanxi Leqi Graphene Technology, a Chinese company working on graphene applications, announced a new graphene-based batteries project. The project will reportedly be divided into 2 phases: a graphene composite conductive paste project with a capacity of 7,500 tpy (expected to start pilot production in December 2017), and a second phase in which the Company will develop a graphene lithium NCA battery anode material, expected to start in July 2018 and reach pilot production in early 2019.

Reports say that the first phase received a total investment of 100 million RMB (almost $15 million USD), and phase 2 secured 200 million RMB (almost $30 million USD).

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have determined that graphene is safe for neurons and non-neuronal cells and has long-term biocompatibility — opening the door for use in devices that interface with the nervous system. Following this new finding, the research team will begin to use graphene with different types of tissues to better understand cell physiology.

In a separate study, the team also found it was possible to grow graphene “fuzz”: a special kind of graphene in 3D. This was achieved by first creating a mesh of nanowires made of silicon, which acted as a surface for the graphene to grow on. Then, the team exposed the mesh to methane plasma, which resulted in carbon separating from the methane and depositing onto the mesh, forming graphene. After using various levels of methane plasma and letting the mesh “cook” for various lengths of time, the research team began to see tiny flakes or “fuzz” of graphene growing off the surface of the silicon nanowires. Unlike previous studies, the graphene was reportedly growing in three dimensions.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have discovered a new use for soda water - they designed a cleaner and more environmentally friendly method to isolate graphene using carbon dioxide (CO2) in the form of carbonic acid as the electrolyte solution.

Graphene is often synthesized by using chemical vapor deposition onto a metal substrate, typically copper foil. The issue of separating it from the metal substrate can be extremely tricky. This typically involves either dissolving away the high-purity metal or delaminating it from the substrate - which require the use of harsh chemicals that leave stubborn residue. The ultra-thin graphene also needs to be coated with a polymer support layer such as polycarbonate or PMMA (poly methyl methacrylate), which requires the use of often toxic and carcinogenic solvents.

Grolltex, a U.S-based advanced materials and equipment company, recently announced a large-capacity commercial lab for production of high quality CVD graphene. Grolltex states that it is now manufacturing the material in its new class 1000 clean room, producing both raw graphene as well as products made from the material, like sensors, perovskite solar cells, display materials and X-ray windows for use in spacecraft.

The new Grolltex graphene facility is said to be capable of producing large high-quality sheets of graphene for commercial sale. The Company is said to have a patented methodology to manufacture the material in a novel way that yields lower-cost materials of high quality. Grolltex leverages graphene research and patents developed at nearby University of California, San Diego.

Researchers from the University of Groningen developed a device made by 2D sheets of graphene and Boron-Nitride that showed unprecedented spin transport efficiency at room temperature.

The research, funded by the European Union's $1 billion Graphene Flagship, uses the single-layer graphene as the core material. The researchers say that graphene is a great material for spin transport - but the spin in the graphene cannot be manipulated. To overcome this in the device, the graphene is sandwiched between two layers of boron nitride and the whole structure rests on silicon.

Graphene Flagship Partners RWTH Aachen University and AMO GmbH, both based in Germany, recently launched a new joint research center with a focus on efficiently bridging the gap between fundamental science and applications within graphene and related materials based electronics and photonics.

The five founding Principal Investigators of the Aachen Graphene & 2D-Materials Center are all members of the Graphene Flagship and share the vision of bringing graphene and related materials research from the lab into applications. “The Center will help to turn the exciting properties of graphene and 2D-materials into true functions, making these materials not only fascinating for scientists but also serving society”, as was explained.