An international team of researchers, led by the University of Bern and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and assisted by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU, Spain) and Chuo University (Japan), has demonstrated a new way to control the functionality of next-gen molecular electronic devices using graphene. The results could be used to develop smaller, higher-performance devices for use in a applications like sensors, flexible electronics, energy conversion and storage, and more.

The team demonstrated the stability of multi-layer graphene-based molecular electronic devices down to the single molecule limit. The findings represent a major step change in the development of graphene-based molecular electronics, with the reproducible properties of covalent contacts between molecules and graphene (even at room temperature) reportedly overcoming the limitations of current state-of-the-art technologies based on coinage metals.

Group NanoXplore, a Montreal-based company specializing in the production and application of graphene and its derivative materials, announced that it will merge with Graniz Modal, a public company that trades in the Canadian stock exchange (TSX: GRA.H). Effectively, NanoXplore will become a public company.

As part of the transaction, NanoXplore will also make a brokered private placement and will raise between $2 million and $5 million CAD.

Talga Resources has provided an update on initial benchmark testing of its graphene in Lithium-ion batteries, manufactured at the Warwick Manufacturing Group’s Energy Innovation Center, University of Warwick UK.

Following successful tests of the Company’s micrographite product, Talga announced its intention to move towards testing its graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as the active material of Li-ion battery anodes. Preliminary test results are highly encouraging with Talga's material exhibiting outstanding electrochemical performance that reportedly surpasses capacity measures for commercially available graphite anodes, delivering up to ~27% more energy density. The tests also showed low capacity losses (reversible capacity >99.5%) and high stability (coulombic efficiency 99.9%). Talga also reports that the results were achieved using its bulk graphene nanoplatelets, rather than few layered graphene materials (FLG), which raises potential to compete at today’s anode market cost structure.

An international team of scientists collaborating in the Graphene Flagship project has developed a graphene-based transistor that reportedly outperforms previous state-of-the-art ones. The team utilized a thin top gate insulator material to optimize operational properties like maximum oscillation frequency, cutoff frequency, forward transmission coefficient, and open-circuit voltage gain, realizing devices that show prospect of using graphene in a wide range of electronic applications.

Graphene lack of a bandgap hinders its use in electronics since it causes an inability to switch the transistors off, effectively rendering the 0 state in digital logic inaccessible. However, many analog applications do not require a bandgap; The team explains that the only undesired side-effect of using GFETs in analog circuits is a poor saturation of the drain current, which prevents high-gain operation. The researchers have now succeeded in improving saturation by optimizing the dielectric material (AlOx) that is used to electrically insulate the top gate of the GFET. An improved quality of gate dielectric resulted in strong control over carriers in the graphene channel, yielding overall performance benefits.

A Chinese company called Shanghai Kyorene New Material Technology has reportedly developed a graphene fiber, that has been used to produce clothes, sports wear and underwear products. One company that states it uses these fibers in actual commercial products is Armor Guys, a U.S-based glove maker.

The technology is said to make graphene completely integrated with high polymer materials under room temperature, and adds special function to ordinary textile products like antibacterial, ultraviolet-proof, anti-static and heat preservation effects.

Australian technology minerals company, Talga Resources, announced a funding initiative to raise gross proceeds of $12.3 million AUD (around $9.2 million USD). The Placement is being made to a small group of targeted institutions and was also strongly supported by a group of Talga’s major shareholders.

The Company intends to use these funds towards Talga’s commercial, processing, product development and mineral development programs in Europe as well as for general working capital.

Researchers from Soochow University in China developed a 2D RRAM device structure based on sheets of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The device uses a Graphene/hBN/Graphene structure and it features excellent overall fitting results.

This is still just a theoretical model, but it may prove to be the basis of high performance RRAM devices.

Skeleton Technologies has unveiled SkelGrid, an energy storage system for industrial power applications, based on the company's curved graphene supercapacitor technology. The system is meant to ensure reliable power quality in manufacturing plants, data centers, and more.

SkelGrid is said to provide the highest power and energy density on the market in the industry standard electrical cabinet or container format. The SkelGrid product family is based on SkelRack modules, which can be installed in industry standard 19, 600mm deep cabinets, and in 20 or 40 ft. containers to provide short-term power at the megawatt level. The SkelGrid family has maximum power ratings ranging from 520 kW up to 1500 kW, and as a modular product, its components can be configured according to customers’ needs.

Imagine Intelligent Materials, an Australia-based graphene applications company, has announced a commercial installation of its imgne® X3 solution, at a Queensland coal seam gas site, reportedly completed during the 2nd week of May.

The installations comprise a total of over 10,000 square meters of bidim C geotextiles, manufactured by Geofabrics Australasia and coated with Imagine IM’s imgne® X3. The conductive coating enables detection of holes as small as 0.7 mm using pre-existing, proven electrical testing techniques. The solution allows operators to reduce the risk of leakage of toxic leachate from CSG mining into groundwater and aquifers.

Graphene 3D Lab and AzTrong have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which outlines the terms of the agreement to be executed in the near future. This collaboration will aim to achieve cost effective production of performance-improving graphene-based products with focus on energy storage, construction, automotive and defense sectors.

Subject to the final agreement, Graphene 3D Lab will continue to develop formulations for graphene-related products while conducting tests and quality control measurements. G3L will also contribute its extensive knowledge in marketing for the graphene related products, while AzT will perform the large-scale manufacturing of the products. The products will be distributed by both companies including the e-commerce web stores, Graphene Supermarket, BlackMagic3D and G6-Epoxy, operated by Graphene 3D.