ZEN Graphene Solutions has announced that it completed its previously announced non-brokered private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of CAD$4,337,998 (around USD$3.46 million).

ZEN intends to use the net proceeds to fund capital expenditures and operating expenses at Guelph locations supporting the scale-up and production of its antimicrobial coating to serve existing client orders and create capacity for subsequent clients. ZEN also intends to continue to invest in its intellectual property related to graphene. Funds will also be used for general corporate purposes.

Versarien recently announced that it has entered into a wide-ranging series of agreements with Graphene Lab, a South Korean company specializing in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene, including sensors, OLEDs, and flexible transparent touch panels, with the intention of advancing both Versarien's and Graphene Lab's proposed activities in South Korea.

This follows Versarien's acquisition of certain graphene production related assets and intellectual property from South Korea based Hanwha Aerospace, as announced on 22 December 2020.

Two teams of researchers have independently reported a certain type of graphene system where electrons freeze as the temperature rises. The first team, with members from Israel, the U.S. and Japan, found that placing one layer of graphene atop another and then twisting the one on top resulted in a graphene state in which the electrons would freeze as temperatures rose. When they tried to explain this, they discovered that the entropy of the near-insulating phase was approximately half of what would be expected from free-electron spins.

The second team found the same graphene system and in their investigation to understand their observations, they noted that a large magnetic moment arose in the insulator. Both teams have published their results in the journal Nature.

Researchers at The University of Manchester’s National Graphene Institute have created optical devices with a unique range of tunability, covering the entire electromagnetic spectrum, including visible light.

The new study lists the possible applications for this ‘smart surface’ technology, that range from next-generation display devices to dynamic thermal blankets for satellites and multi-spectral adaptive camouflage.

Today we published new versions of all our graphene market reports. Graphene-Info provides comprehensive niche graphene market reports, and our reports cover everything you need to know about these niche markets. The reports are now updated to April 2021.

The Graphene Batteries Market Report:

• The advantages using graphene batteries
• The different ways graphene can be used in batteries
• Various types of graphene materials
• What's on the market today
• Detailed specifications of some graphene-enhanced anode material
• Personal contact details into most graphene developers

The report package provides a good introduction to the graphene battery - present and future. It includes a list of all graphene companies involved with batteries and gives detailed specifications of some graphene-enhanced anode materials and contact details into most graphene developers. Read more here!

Haydale has announced that it has been awarded funding of £138,549 (around USD$192,290) to develop hydrogen fuel cell tanks by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).

To support the future of green automotive manufacturing and accelerate the UK's transition to net- zero emission vehicles, the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) has guided £9.4 million in public funding to 22 feasibility studies looking to scale up the industrialization of low-carbon emission vehicle technologies.

Following recent concerns surrounding the use of graphene in face masks and Health Canada's warnings of "a potential that wearers could inhale graphene particles from some masks, which may pose health risks", several companies involved in the production of such masks released their comments on the matter.

Zen Graphene Solutions, which developed a graphene-based virucidal ink and reported that it has a 99% effectiveness against COVID-19, released a statement saying that it is aware of the recent claims, and "is aligned and supportive of the steps taken to regulate the use of graphene and remove products that are unsafe for the public". It went on to state that its own products have been found safe in various "comprehensive testing". Later on, Zen also submitted various data requested by Health Canada - including final results received from Nucro-Technics on skin irritation and sensitivity that confirmed ZENGuardâ„¢ did not lead to any irritation or sensitivity.

Despite the surge of graphene-enhanced face masks that's been evident lately, government authorities like Health Canada recently issued warnings on the use of such graphene masks, cautioning against "a potential that wearers could inhale graphene particles from some masks, which may pose health risks."

This potential threat is followed by the directive to not use these face masks, and Health Canada, for one, is advising Canadians not to use face masks that contain graphene at all. A recent PR stated: "Until the Department completes a thorough scientific assessment and has established the safety and effectiveness of graphene-containing face masks, it is taking the precautionary approach of removing them from the market while continuing to gather and assess information. Health Canada has directed all known distributors, importers and manufacturers to stop selling and to recall the affected products. Additionally, Health Canada has written to provinces and territories advising them to stop distribution and use of masks containing graphene. The Department will continue to take appropriate action to stop the import and sale of graphene face masks".