Researchers at the University of Manchester have demonstrated how graphene's conductivity and flexibility will prove crucial to wearable electronic applications, opening the door to battery-free healthcare and fitness monitoring, phones, internet-ready devices and chargers to be incorporated into clothing and ‘smart skin’ applications (printed graphene-based sensors integrated with other 2D materials and put onto a patient’s skin to monitor temperature, strain and moisture levels).

The researchers printed graphene to create transmission lines and antennae and experimented with these in communication devices. They used a mannequin to which they attached graphene-enabled antennae on each arm, and found that the devices were able to communicate with each other, effectively creating an on-body communications system. These results show that such graphene-based components have the required quality and functionality for wireless wearable devices.

Researchers at Aalto University in Finland have successfully realized extremely thin metallic graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) - only 5 carbon atoms wide. The team demonstrated fabrication of the GNRs and measured their electronic structure, with results that suggest that these extremely narrow ribbons could be used as metallic interconnects in future microprocessors.

GNRs have been suggested as ideal wires for use in future nanoelectronics: when the size of the wire is reduced to the atomic scale, graphene is expected to outperform copper in terms of conductance and resistance to electromigration - the typical breakdown mechanism in thin metallic wires. However, previously demonstrated graphene nanoribbons have been semiconducting, which hampers their use as interconnects. Now, the researchers have shown that certain atomically precise graphene nanoribbon widths are nearly metallic, in accordance with earlier predictions based on theoretical calculations.

Scientists at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) are working on creating graphene-based hypersensitive sensors for precise analyses and pre-clinical drug research. While using bio-sensor chips to gather information on the effectiveness and toxicity of future medicine is not a new concept, the researchers in this study have managed to significantly improve the technology.

The researchers substituted the connecting layers in existing chips with a thin film made of graphene plates, which helps increase the precision of the analysis of biochemical reactions almost threefold. It is expected that in some cases the improvement might be 10 or even 100-fold. Substances react to graphene even in minimal concentration, while with hydrogel and sulfur-containing molecules no reaction would be expected. Scientists say that using this method will reduce the time needed for conducting analyses from days to minutes.

Carbon Sciences has been working on developing graphene-based devices for cloud computing. Now, the company announced that it has signed an agreement with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) to fund the research and development of a new graphene-based optical modulator, a critical fiber optics component needed to enable ultrafast communication in data centers for Cloud computing.

In order for data to be transmitted through a fiber optic cable, light from a laser beam must be modulated. The amount of data that can be encoded and transmitted depends on the speed of the light beam modulation. Since changing the conductivity of graphene also changes its optical properties, light passing through it will also be changed accordingly to encode digital data. This, along with graphene's impressive features are to enable the development of an ultrafast, low cost, and low power, graphene-based optical modulator.

Researchers at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) announced the development of an iron-carbon composite catalyst that can contribute to a reduction in the costs of fuel cells and Li-air batteries. 

The carbon composite catalyst contains iron and nitrogen and uses a graphene nanoplate. It is reportedly better than existing carbon catalysts in terms of durability and performance, and allows mass production at a low cost. The researchers hope that it will be able to contribute to the commercialization of metal-air batteries.

Graphene 3D Lab recently announced the initiation of a non-brokered private placement of up to 3,400,000 units to raise up to CDN$850,000 in gross proceeds (around $619,000 USD). Now, it the company has increased the proposed private placement to up to 4,000,000 Units to raise up to CDN$1,000,000 (around $730,000 USD).

G3L stated that proceeds from this financing will be used primarily for expansion of the company's business and for general working capital purposes.

Researchers at the University of Maryland, along with collaborators from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), have developed a theoretical model that demonstrates how to shape and stretch graphene to create a powerful, adjustable and sustainable magnetic force. This discovery could also be a major step in understanding how electrons move in extremely high magnetic fields.

Graphene's electrons react to stretching or straining by behaving as if they are in a strong magnetic field. This so-called pseudomagnetic effect could open up new possibilities in graphene electronics, but so far, researchers have only been able to induce limited pseudofields that are far from to realizing in practice. However, Maryland researchers may have explained how to shape a graphene ribbon so that simply pulling its two ends produces a uniform pseudomagnetic field.The team is confident that they will soon be able to transition their theoretical model to a design reality.

Graphene 3D Lab announced the initiation of a non-brokered private placement of up to 3,400,000 units to raise up to CND$850,000 in gross proceeds (around $619,000 USD). Each Unit will consist of one common share and one non-transferable share purchase warrant.

The company stated that proceeds of this financing will be used primarily for expansion of its business and for general working capital purposes.

The Graphene-Info team is excited to announce its attendance at the at the MWC 2016, the world's largest event for the mobile industry held in Barcelona, Spain. The MWC 2016 will feature an entire pavilion dedicated to graphene in regards to the mobile world, an exciting precedent that emphasizes the growing attention that graphene is receiving in the technological world.

Graphene has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of mobile technology and components, like display technology (for flexible screens), sensor technology (for wearables, Internet-of-Things, Smart Cities), energy transmission and storage technology (for batteries and supercapacitors), and chip technology (for data communications).

XG Sciences and Boston-Power have announced a joint development agreement, aimed at customizing XG Sciences’ silicon-graphene anode materials for use in Boston-Power’s lithium-ion battery products. 

The plan is to optimize electrochemical and microstructural electrode performance, as well as developing electrode and battery manufacturing techniques using the two companies’ proprietary materials. The companies see a real synergy between Boston-Power’s battery engineering and design capabilities and the new XG-SiG anode materials. Boston-Power has the ability to design and manufacture the battery, while XG Sciences has the ability to customize the anode materials to best fit the Boston-Power system.