Graphene applications: what is graphene used for?
Graphene is a one-atom-thick sheet of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb-like pattern. Graphene is considered to be the world's thinnest, strongest and most conductive material - of both electricity and heat. All of these properties are exciting researchers and businesses around the world - as graphene has the potential to revolutionize entire industries - in the fields of electricity, conductivity, energy generation, batteries, sensors and more.
Mechanical strength
Graphene is the world's strongest material, and can be used to enhance the strength of other materials. Dozens of researchers have demonstrated that adding even a trace amount of graphene to plastics, metals or other materials can make these materials much stronger - or lighter (as you can use a smaller amount of material to achieve the same strength).
Such graphene-enhanced composite materials can find uses in aerospace, building materials, mobile devices, and many other applications.
Thermal applications
Graphene is the most heat conductive found to date. As graphene is also strong and light, it means that it is a great material for making heat-spreading solutions, such as heat sinks or heat dissipation films. This could be useful in both microelectronics (for example to make LED lighting more efficient and longer lasting) and also in larger applications - for example thermal foils for mobile devices. Huawei's latest smartphones, for example, have adopted graphene-based thermal films.
Energy storage
Since graphene is the world's thinnest material, it also extremely high surface-area to volume ratio. This makes graphene a very promising material for use in batteries and supercapacitors. Graphene may enable batteries and supercapacitors (and even fuel-cells) that can store more energy - and charge faster, too.
The advantages of graphene batteries
Coatings ,sensors, electronics and more
Graphene has a lot of promise for additional applications: anti-corrosion coatings and paints, efficient and precise sensors, faster and efficient electronics, flexible displays, efficient solar panels, faster DNA sequencing, drug delivery, and more.
Graphene is such a great and basic building block that it seems that any industry can benefit from this new material. Time will tell where graphene will indeed make an impact - or whether other new materials will be more suitable.
Novel graphene-based sub-terahertz receivers could enable ultra-compact, zero-power 6G links
Researchers from ICFO, ETH Zurich, University of Ioannina, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), Arizona State University and Japan's National Institute for Materials Science have demonstrated the first graphene‑based sub‑terahertz (sub‑THz) direct receivers that simultaneously deliver multi‑gigabit‑per‑second data rates, ultra‑compact footprint, CMOS compatibility, and near‑zero operating power - making graphene a valid hardware candidate for 6G wireless communications.
They operate at sub‑THz carrier frequencies to meet the demanding requirements of future links, achieving multi‑gigabit‑per‑second wireless data transmission over distances of around 3 m at room temperature, with a fully electronic, zero‑bias detection scheme and a device area of only about 0.018 mm².
RIG Gaming partners with Ora Graphene Audio to launch new gaming headset with GrapheneQ drivers
NACON, a premium gaming gear company and parent of the RIG audio brand, has unveiled its latest release in their R-SERIES of headsets – the RIG R5 SPEAR MAX HD. Purpose-built for PC gaming, the R5 MAX HD features innovative GrapheneQ™ drivers from Ora, setting a new standard for studio-grade game audio.
Custom-tuned for first-person shooters, the R5 MAX HD are powered by Ora’s patented GrapheneQ™ technology. Constructed from pure graphene, the GrapheneQ membrane offers the ideal mechanical properties for headphone speakers. The material’s unique combination of high stiffness and low density allows for improved audio reproduction and ultra-low distortion. In gaming, these qualities translate to improved spatial audio, allowing players to localize sounds and objects with enhanced speed and precision.
Graphene-enhanced wallpaper trial launched in Fareham military homes
VIVO Defence Services, which provides maintenance services on behalf of the MOD’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation to more than 27,000 military homes in southeast and southwest England, is conducting data-monitored testing at two military housing sites in Fareham, Hampshire, over the next six months. If successful, the technology, developed by British company NexGen Heating, could be rolled out across additional homes managed by VIVO across the region.
The technology uses electric graphene heated paper - a toughened white wallpaper that can be attached to walls or ceilings. In this trial, it is being installed on the ceilings of the two Fareham homes. The graphene paper can be painted over, and uses an energy-efficient, low-voltage system that emits low-temperature far-infrared waves of directional, radiant heat, replicating the comfortable warmth of sunlight. This enables it to warm up objects and people rapidly - in just a few minutes - rather gradually heating the air as traditional radiators or wall-mounted heaters do. As a result, families only need to heat the spaces they are using, helping to reduce energy costs.
Graphene Composites announces milestone verification for its GC Patrol Shield ballistic shield
Graphene Composites USA (GC USA) has announced that its ultralight GC Patrol Shield® has become "the first and only rifle-rated ballistic shield to pass and receive third-party verification for rifle and shotgun rounds under the ASTM E3347-25 standard (Standard Specification for Ballistic-Resistant Shields Used by Law Enforcement Officers)".
Third-Party verified edge-shot protection and real-world durability at half the weight of conventional shields could have great potential for Law Enforcement safety.
Dovetail launches graphene-enhanced workwear for women
U.S-based women's workwear brand Dovetail has launched a graphene-enhanced collection said to be “smarter, lighter, stronger and more comfortable than ever”. The brand's recently launched Graphene Collection is a line of work pants infused with graphene technology. The John Deere collaborator partnered with Chinese mill Freedom Denim for the 10 oz. and 13 oz. graphene denim used in the collection.
The graphene nanomaterial is "infused into each fiber at the molecular level, giving fabric a permanent boost in performance". Dovetail says the integration retains the original weight and stretch of the fibers while delivering “game-changing benefits” like strength and enhanced temperature regulation to keep wearers comfortable in any season.
Researchers use electrode materials from used batteries to make cathodes with enhanced lithium storage properties
South China University of Technology researchers have proposed a sustainable strategy to synthesize a series of FePO4 wrapped by reduced graphene oxides (FePO4@rGx (x = 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) composites directly from waste LiFePO₄ batteries.
This strategy not only provides closed-loop recycling of both cathode (LiFePO₄) and anode (graphite) materials, but also enhances performance via in situ rG wrapping.
Black Swan Graphene updates on recent progress
Black Swan Graphene has provided an update on its ongoing commercial initiatives, underscoring the success of its strategic approach to providing Graphene-Enhanced Masterbatch™ or GEM™ (“GEM“) to the polymer industry. This model, which involves working closely with distribution partners and masterbatch manufacturers, continues to demonstrate its value by supporting product adoption and maximizing market reach.
“We are incredibly excited to see our efforts and investments culminating in significant progress toward commercialization as our graphene gains traction in the industrial sector. As for many innovative products, the initial commercialization is paramount, as progress with prospective customers and production activities can provide supply security for eventual customers. As volumes expand, not only will the Company be able to compete more effectively in higher-volume applications, but lower production costs open doors to more price-sensitive markets. The path to commercialization success is now clearly within reach,” stated Michael Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Black Swan.
Graphenest and Lohmann announce joint-venture to develop graphene-based shielding adhesives
Graphenest and Lohmann GmbH, a developer of adhesive technologies, have announced the signing of a joint-venture agreement to co-develop next-generation graphene-based adhesive systems for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and thermal management applications.
This strategic collaboration will combine Graphenest’s proprietary graphene production technology and abilities with Lohmann’s adhesive formulation expertise to deliver highly conductive, high-performance adhesive solutions for electronics, aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications.
LayerLogic raises €470K to scale graphene-based food safety sensor
LayerLogic, a Swedish deeptech startup spun out of Chalmers University of Technology, has secured €470,000 in pre-seed funding to accelerate development of its real-time food contamination detection platform. The round was led by Scientifica Venture Capital and follows LayerLogic’s selection in the Super Sapiens Europe initiative.
Founded in 2024, LayerLogic originated within Chalmers’ Department of Quantum Device Physics, Microtechnology, and Nanoscience. The team combines engineering and academic expertise in graphene-based technologies. At the core of the company’s innovation is a portable biosensor that uses graphene field-effect transistors (gFETs) to detect foodborne pathogens. The surface of the sensor is functionalized with selective receptor molecules, enabling rapid identification of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and contaminant compounds.
Premier Graphene announces new strategic joint venture focused on protective body armor for military use
Premier Graphene, formerly Premier Biomedical, has announced, along with its affiliate HGI Industrial Technologies SAPI, and Nevada Ballistic Armor Corp., its launch of a multinational joint venture producing highly protective body armor for military.
As part of this collaboration, Premier and HGI Industrial Technologies delivered armored plates for final testing to a Latin American country. The armored plates have already yielded promising results in controlled laboratory environments within the United States. These plates achieved NIJ certification, evidencing compliance with rigorous ballistic standards. Replication of such testing will be performed by such Latin American country’s military in the coming weeks.
