Graphene-Info | Graphene industry portal - Page 3

Canada-based Evercloak's HVAC technology recently received a funding boost, with CAD$1.1 million (over USD$807,000) in funding from Natural Resources Canada's Energy Innovation Program (EIP).

The EIP funding supports a $1.8M project enabling Evercloak to accelerate the development of their membrane-based system, which can cut the energy required for air conditioning and dehumidification by up to 50%. According to the Company's founder and CEO, Evelyn Allen, those reductions will be crucial as global temperatures rise.

Salgenx, developer of graphene-based salt water flow battery technology, has announced the development of a method to transform dendrites into a key component for high-performance cathode metallic materials in the saltwater flow battery. 

This new approach aims to not only mitigate the problems caused by dendrites but to also leverage their unique properties to enhance battery efficiency and longevity.

Specialist structural flooring manufacturers Staircraft have been testing the use of Haydale's graphene-based functional ink for application on their innovative chipboard flooring system. Significant investment has reportedly been made to get the new flooring system to adopt a heating solution that is cost effective and easy to install.

In a recent trial, Staircraft has reported very encouraging results and is now focused on continuing to collect definitive data before introducing the concept to their customer base. 

As part of an effort to promote self-reliance, the Indian government's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has granted seven new projects to private MSMEs and start-ups in the defense industry, under the Technology Development Fund scheme. 

One of these projects aims to develop graphene-Based smart & e-textiles for multifunctional wearable applications. Alohatech has been granted funding for this project, which will focus on developing conductive yarn and fabric-making processes using graphene nanomaterials and conductive inks. 

Limb neuroprostheses aim to restore motor and sensory functions in amputated or severely nerve-injured patients. These devices use neural interfaces to record and stimulate nerve action potentials, creating a bidirectional connection with the nervous system. Most neural interfaces are based on standard metal microelectrodes. 

Left: a histological section of the nerve implanted with an electrode longitudinally. Right, an image of the sciatic nerve with an EGNITE electrode implanted transversely to allow stimulation and recording of nerve impulses. Image credit: UAB

Researchers at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) and ICN2 have demonstrated in animal models how Engineered Graphene for Neural Interface (EGNITE), a derivative of graphene, allows the creation of smaller electrodes, which can interact more selectively with the nerves they stimulate, thus improving the efficacy of the prostheses. The study also demonstrated that EGNITE is biocompatible, showing that its implantation is safe.

The exceptional electronic properties of graphene make it a material with large potential for low-power, high-frequency electronics. However, the performance of a graphene-based device depends not only on the properties of the graphene itself, but also on the quality of its metal contacts. The lack of effective and manufacturable approaches to establish good ohmic contacts to a graphene sheet is one of the factors that currently limit the full application potential of graphene technology. The quality of the graphene-metal contacts is described in terms of the contact resistance (RC). Low RC values are crucial for any high-frequency or low-power application. Graphene’s low density of states near the charge neutrality point (Dirac point) limits carrier injection from metals, often resulting in high RC values.

(a–d) Schematics showing the process sequence for manufacturing the devices and the laser irradiation of graphene in the contact regions. (e) Optical micrograph of one of the measured devices. Image credit: AMO

Recently, researchers from RWTH Aachen University and AMO have developed a scalable method based on laser irradiation of graphene to reduce the RC in nickel-contacted devices. A laser with a wavelength of l = 532 nm is used to induce defects at the contact regions, which are monitored in situ using micro-Raman spectroscopy. 

Black Swan Graphene has announced the release of its fourth commercial Graphene Enhanced Masterbatch ("GEM") product, as it continues to deploy broad commercialization efforts.

This new thermoplastic polyurethane ("TPU") masterbatch is an addition to the GraphCore 01 product line. TPU is a versatile polymer that combines the properties of rubber and plastic, making it an ideal material for a variety of applications ranging from industrial to consumer goods; inflatable products are particularly well suited for this new GEM. Using this new GEM, Black Swan has reportedly demonstrated a 25% improvement in light weighting capability, along with other mechanical performance improvements.