Researchers from the VIT University in India managed to synthesize and characterize unique graphene oxide reinforced composites (prepared by colloidal blending), with potential for benefiting applications like electronics with desired dielectric properties, such as embedded capacitors. The composite's excellent stability and anti-corrosive properties make it suitable for marine and naval applications.

The composite, referred to as PEDOT-TMA/PMMA/GO, were examined by various means, namely UVVis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, FT-Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy. It was demonstrated that the GO was homogeneously dispersed in the polymer matrix. An increase in surface roughness as a function of GO loading was also found, as well as a significant improvement in the thermal stability of composites. The composites show high values of dielectric constant and low values of dielectric loss.

An international team of scientists, including ones from the University of Exeter, the Institute for Systems Engineering and Computers, Microsystems and Nanotechnology (INESC-MN) in Lisbon, the Universities of Lisbon and Aveiro in Portugal and the Belgian Textile Research Centre (CenTexBel) designed a new technique for embedding transparent and flexible graphene electrodes into fibers commonly used in the textile industry.

This could lead the way to creating wearable electronic devices such as clothing containing computers, phones and MP3 players, which are lightweight and durable. The scientists state that the possibilities for its use are endless, including textile GPS systems, biomedical monitoring, personal security or even communication tools for the sensory impaired.

The Canadian Graphene Sensors Inc. and India-based Meditel Technologies will form a new Joint Venture called Single Member LLC. Meditel will invest $36 million in Single Member and will hold 70% of the new company.

Single Member will likely commercialize Graphene Sensors' graphene-based sensor technology, and indeed it will be granted a leasing license for the GS7 biosensor technology (used for the early detection of potentially cancerous cells).

IBM researchers designed a method to estimate and measure friction in various materials. The method allows the scientists to mechanically measure the tension and friction of two sliding sheets of graphite,  something that has been previously poorly understood and theory-based. The team also derived a mathematical expression to illustrate what they were seeing in an atomic force microscope (AFM), which turned out to be in agreement with theoretical models.  

The scientists discovered that the friction is randomly determined in nature and directly based on the interaction between the proportionate lattices of the material, in this case graphite. A conversation with one of the researchers revealed that since the study focused on the facial aspects of the graphite, it is his belief that it would also apply for graphene, but this will require further inquiry.

US-based Carbon Sciences announced that the research project funded by the company at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), has successfully demonstrated the production of high quality graphene using a low cost chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process.

The UCSB research team has successfully engineered a low cost CVD system that is optimized for graphene production using proprietary processes, catalysts and techniques. The system can also be used to customize doping to create application specific graphene.

Researchers at MIT, NIST, University of Maryland, Imperial College London, and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan have created a "whispering gallery" effect for electrons in a sheet of graphene, making it possible to precisely control a region that reflects electrons within the material. This accomplishment could help in heralding new kinds of electronic lenses, as well as quantum-based devices that combine electronics and optics.

The process uses a probe (the same as in STM - Scanning Tunneling Miscroscopy) that allows control of both the location and the size of the reflecting region within graphene. When the sharp tip is positioned over a sheet of graphene, it produces a circular barrier on the sheet that "acts as a perfect curved mirror" for electrons, according to the scientists, reflecting them back toward the center of the circle. This controllable reflectivity is similar to so-called "whispering gallery" confinement modes that have been used in optical and acoustic systems - but these have not been tunable or adjustable.

Researchers at MIT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) have devised a process to repair leaks, cracks and holes that are formed in graphene in the process of creating membranes for water filtration and desalination.

The process relies on a combination of chemical deposition and polymerization techniques. The team also used a process it developed previously to create tiny, uniform pores in the material, small enough to allow only water to pass through. These two techniques combined yielded a relatively large defect-free graphene membrane, about the size of a penny.

Researchers at the Russian Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of Russian Academy of Sciences developed a tomography imaging procedure that facilitates the visualization of defects on graphene layers by mapping the surface. This is a unique use of a traditionally medical imaging method to materials at the atomic scale, that may help improve existing characterization and defect-location methods. 

The scientists concentrated on a specific contrast agent - soluble palladium complex - that can selectively attach to defect areas on the surface of carbon materials. his attachment results in the formation of nanoparticles that can be detected using an electron microscope. The binding of the agent is stronger in areas where the carbon center is more reactive, and the reactivity centers and defect sites can be mapped in high resolution and excellent contrast. Also, this procedure distinguished defects not only by the differences in their morphology, but also by their varying chemical reactivity. Therefore, this imaging approach enables the chemical reactivity to be visualized with spatial resolution. 

Sunvault Energy, along with Edison Power, announced the creation of the world's largest 10,000 Farad Graphene Supercapacitor. The companies declared that this development is the most significant breakthrough in the development of Graphene Supercapacitors to date.

Sunvault's CEO says that the technology can be defined as a hybrid, bringing the power density associated with a battery together with the high impact fast charging known to capacitors. He claims that at 10,000 Farads, a Graphene Supercapacitor is powerful enough to power up a Semi Truck while being the size of a paperback novel. the companies are focused on developing their technology and shrinking the size of the unit in the near future.

The Canadian Grafoid announced the acquisition of analytical services provider MuAnalysis Inc., of Ontario, Canada. MuAnalysis provides analytical expertise and solutions to the electronics, photonics, life sciences, and manufacturing industries and offers expertise in electron microscopy, optical microscopy, materials and failure analysis techniques, and reliability testing to its global customers.

Grafoid representatives stated that the acquisition of MuAnalysis is an important addition to Grafoid, since quality control and quality assurance are paramount in delivering the company's manufactured materials and products, especially now that is has advanced to an automated Mesografâ„¢ graphene mass production system. MuAnalysis is to supply the nanotechnology analytical services that support product innovation and accelerate graphene application development capabilities.