Graphene-Info: the graphene experts

Scientists at Rice University and the University of Houston have developed a catalyst that can simplify the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen to produce clean energy. The electrolytic film is a three-layer structure of nickel, graphene and a compound of iron, manganese and phosphorus. The foamy nickel gives the film a large surface, the conductive graphene protects the nickel from degrading and the metal phosphide carries out the reaction.

The film was developed to overcome barriers that usually make a catalyst good for producing either oxygen or hydrogen, but not both simultaneously - as is often the case with regular metals. The team explained that normally, a hydrogen evolution reaction is done in acid and an oxygen evolution reaction is done in base. This work produced one material that is stable whether it's in an acidic or basic solution. In addition, the team used rather common materials in lieu of the usually-required platinum and other costly materials.

Zenyatta Ventures, a Canadian graphite explorer, has formed a wholly owned European subsidiary company named ZEN-tech Materials to focus on the development and commercialization activities of graphene applications and the allocation of any associated intellectual property and worldwide licensing.

Zenyatta stated that the formation of ZEN-tech is a strategic move that will provide it with a way to capture value and advance graphene application development separate from the mineral development business. Zenyatta will continue to focus on advancing the Albany graphite deposit towards production and will supply highly crystalline, purified graphite to ZEN-tech, academics and end users.

Researchers from Utrecht University, TU Delft and the Aalto University in Finland have shown that electronic components can be incorporated in single graphene wires (nanoribbons) with atomic precision. The result is a working electronic device that could be used in graphene-based electronic switches with extremely fast operational speeds.

The researchers state that their solution to using graphene in electronics is atomically precise; By selecting certain precursor substances (molecules), the team can code the structure of the electrical circuit with extreme accuracy. The switch is based on the principle of graphene nanoribbons. Previous research has shown that the ribbon’s electronic characteristics are dependent on its atomic width. A ribbon that is five atoms wide is an ordinary electric wire with extremely good conduction characteristics, but adding two atoms makes the ribbon a semiconductor. “We are now able to seamlessly integrate a five-atom wide ribbon together with one that is seven atoms wide. That gives you a metal-semiconductor junction, which works as a diode”, according to the team.

Haydale recently shared updates on the passing financial year and on the prospects for the Group. The total income for the financial year ended 30 June 2017 is reportedly expected to be in line with current market expectations, which represents a doubling when compared with the prior financial year.

According to Haydale, the cash balance at 30 June 2017 stood at approximately £2.0 million (31 December 2016: £1.1 million). At the year's end, the Group's order book, being product sales orders and consulting contracts to be fulfilled over the next 3.5 years, stood at approximately £5.4 million, which is at record levels for Haydale and provides good visibility on the Group's future income.

First Graphite recently announced the receipt of government approvals for its planned commercial graphene production facility, which is aimed at being operational in Q4 of 2017. FGR said that the production facility will be funded from existing cash balances.

Initial capacity will reportedly be in the order of 20-25 tonnes per annum of saleable graphene, based on a single shift operation, five days per week. Multiple shifts could escalate production rates to globally significant levels in the event suitable sales contracts are negotiated.

Researchers at IMM-CNR (Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems of the National Research Council), in collaboration with the CNRS, the University of Bordeaux and the University of Montpellier, have developed a new graphene production technique that uses degassed water, instead of surfactants to prevent graphene flakes from aggregating.

The new method enables graphene production in a convenient, easy and environmentally friendly way. The technique reportedly yields large amounts of single-layer graphene. The teams started with graphite, exfoliated under inert atmosphere in tetrahydrofuran, an organic solvent. The solution is then oxidized and transferred to degassed water. The absence of gases in the water prevents the single layers of graphene from aggregating and settling at the bottom, leaving the flakes dispersed in the solution.

First Graphite, the Australia-based graphite miner and graphene producer, recently announced that it has become a Tier 1 partner to the Australian Research Council Research Hub for Graphene Enabled Industry Transformation (ARC Graphene Research Hub).

The ARC Graphene Research HUB aims to provide knowledge, innovative research and commercial development of graphene technologies across broad areas. Under the Terms of the ARC Hub agreement FGR will focus on the areas of fire retardants, where the Company already has global licence to exploit the technology, development of conductive graphene coatings and development of graphene polymer composites.