Researchers at Plymouth University, Cambridge and Tohoku (Japan) Universities and Nokia Technologies have found that electrical signals transmitted at high frequencies through graphene do not lose energy. In fact, the study showed that graphene out-performs any other known material, including superconductors, when carrying high-frequency electrical signals compared to direct current.

This finding may result in wide-ranging technology developments like next generation high-speed transistors, amplifiers, mobile phones, satellite communications and ultra-sensitive biological sensors.

An interdisciplinary team, whose collaboration was coordinated by the University of Trieste in Italy and the Cambridge Graphene Centre, has successfully demonstrated how it is possible to interface graphene with neurons, or nerve cells, while maintaining the integrity of these vital cells. This innovative work may enable building graphene-based electrodes that can be safely implanted in the brain, offering promise for the restoration of sensory functions for amputee or paralysed patients, or for individuals with motor disorders such as epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease.

Previous work has shown that it is possible to use treated graphene to interact with neurons. However, the signal to noise ratio from this interface was very low. By developing methods of working with untreated graphene, the researchers retained the material’s electrical conductivity, making it a significantly better electrode.

In early November, the graphene-info team visited the UK - the birthplace of graphene. Our first stop was Cambridge - visiting FlexEnable and Cambridge Nanosystems - and then we headed for the Cambridge Graphene Center for a two-day graphene conference. We finished the tour with a trip up north to Manchester, to see the NGI, Manchester University's Graphene institute.

While we try to be on top of everything that is related to graphene, our first impression from the visits and the conference is that the graphene industry is much more active than it seemed. There are many very exciting projects, some on the verge of commercialization, and it looks like graphene is going to make a larger impact than we expected in the near future. We came back very encouraged!

Scientists at the University of Cambridge have created a graphene-based lithium-oxygen battery that is extremely energy dense, can be recharged more than 2000 times, and is 90% more efficient than current models. Lithium-oxygen batteries as regarded as the "ultimate" batteries because their theoretical energy density is ten times higher than a lithium-ion battery.

The researchers offered potential solutions to some of the problems facing such batteries before they can be realized, by producing a lab-based demonstrator of a lithium-oxygen battery that is a huge improvement over previous models. The new device relies on a highly porous carbon electrode made from graphene and other chemical additives. Although not all the problems have been solved, the results are a great advancement and show routes forward towards a practical device. 

The University of Cambridge has announced a rapid and low-cost method of printing conductive ink using graphene and other materials, which might facilitate the manufacturing of cost effective printed electronics, sensors and more.

The Centre of Process Innovation (CPI) has announced that it will be part of a UK-based collaboration to develop the next generation of graphene-based ultra-barrier materials for flexible transparent plastic electronic based displays. The materials on which this work focuses on are required for the next generation of smartphones, tablets and wearable electronics and the twelve month project titled ‘Gravia’ will investigate the feasibility of producing graphene-based barrier films for next generation flexible OLED lighting and display products. 

The project combines the skills from each of the partners (University of Cambridge, FlexEnable Ltd, the National Physical Laboratory and the Centre for Process Innovation) and expects to deliver a feasible material and process system. It builds upon significant existing investments by InnovateUK and the EPSRC in this area. The resulting ultra-barrier material can be potentially used in a wide range of novel applications by the lead business partner, FlexEnable.

The Cambridge Graphene Centre announced teaming up with Japanese company Nippon Kayaku, a chemicals manufacturer with global activities in functional materials, pharmaceuticals, automotive safety components and agrochemicals.

Researchers from the University of Birmingham (which lead the research), University of Cambridge and National Centre for Nanoscience & Technology in Beijing designed the world’s thinnest, tunable, lightweight graphene-based lenses.

The project focused on designing Fresnel lenses, which are flat lenses consisting of concentric rings. The rings diffract light to create constructive interference. The other advantage of these lenses is that their optical performance can be tuned by changing the electrical properties of graphene.

Researchers from Cambridge University, together with a team from Beijing Institute of Technology, developed a unique multifunctional sulphur electrode that combines an energy storage unit and an electron/ion transfer system.

The electrode uses a metal organic framework (MOF) as a 'template' to produce a conductive porous carbon cage. Sulphur within the cage acts as the host and each sulphur-carbon nanoparticle acts as an energy storage unit. Graphene is wrapped around the sulphur electrode to speed the transfer of ions and electrons.

An annual photo competition held by faculty of engineering at the University of Cambridge aims to present the wide variety of engineering research at the university. This year, the winner of this competition was an incredible electron micrograph photo of free-standing graphene foam.

The graphene foam was made by growing a few layers of graphene on the surface of a porous metal foam skeleton (by CVD), then removing it by dissolving it in etching solution. The photo, by Adrianus Indrat Aria, was called Asteroidea Electrica.