Graphene applications

Transteel has teamed up with Tata Steel to introduce graphene-enhanced jute and cotton fabrics to India’s commercial furniture landscape. The advanced upholstery material, designed to boost durability and wellness, will aim to support a circular economy model and significantly reduce reliance on plastics.

The collaboration showcases Transteel’s new bio chairs collection, in combination with Tata Steel’s advanced graphene-treated natural fibers. Transteel highlights its vision of eco-conscious design that doesn’t compromise on performance.

According to reports, Salgenx has unveiled a comprehensive hybrid energy platform that combines its proprietary saltwater redox flow battery with a graphene-based flowable ultracapacitor and integrated thermal energy management capabilities. This system is said to deliver a flexible, dual-purpose energy storage solution for applications demanding both rapid power response and long-duration energy capacity, while also addressing thermal energy recovery and reuse.

Building on its saltwater-based redox flow battery architecture, Salgenx has introduced a flowable electrode component containing suspended graphene particles. This enhancement functions as a semi-liquid ultracapacitor, significantly increasing the available surface area for electrostatic charge storage and enabling high-speed charge and discharge cycles.

Researchers from Lithuania's Center for Physical Sciences and Technology and Kaunas University of Technology have reported a novel hybrid magnetic sensor that combines the unique properties of manganite and graphene to measure both the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field. 

The schematic drawing of the hybrid sensor. Image from: Scientific Reports

The sensor consists of a nanostructured manganite film to detect the magnetic field strength and a graphene layer to determine the angle between the magnetic field and the sensor plane. This dual sensor approach increases sensitivity over a wide range of magnetic field strengths and provides directional information, making it ideal for applications such as object positioning and navigation. 

The Garland Company, Inc., a Garland Industries company manufacturing and distributing high-performance solutions for the commercial building envelope based in Cleveland, Ohio, has announced the newest addition to its StressPly family of modified bitumen roofing membranes: StressPlyⓇ Max. This patent pending membrane is formulated for maximum strength, superior fire resistance, and exceptional weathering.

The StressPly Max membrane features a dual polyester and fiberglass reinforcement, delivering a high-tensile value further enhanced by a graphene modified bitumen. The incorporation of graphene into the asphaltic compound provides superior strength, with an internal reinforcement exceeding one thousand pounds. 

Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have used graphene to develop a new 3D printer that can make food layer by layer as it prints, using artificial intelligence (AI) to design complex edible structures. This integrated system combines precision infrared heating with AI-driven design tools to address key limitations in automated food production: maintaining food safety during printing and creating intricate shapes without requiring technical expertise.

a). The step-by-step food 3D food fabrication process of the printing and in-line cooking device. b). Design features of the integrative 3D food printer. c) The print head unit has an extrusion tubing inlet, extrusion nozzle, and heater holder. d) The external shell of the infrared heater has a cone-shaped design to converge heat transmission to the targeted printing area. e) The schematic diagram of the fabrication of the LIG infrared heater. Image from: Advanced Materials

Automated food production faces unique challenges compared to manufacturing with traditional materials like plastics or metals. Food must be heated properly to ensure safety, yet maintaining the intended shape during cooking proves difficult. Current 3D food printers operate in two separate steps - first printing cold food paste, then transferring it to an oven or fryer. This approach often leads to deformed shapes and increased contamination risks as the food moves between machines. The new system integrates these steps using a specialized infrared heater made from laser-induced graphene (LIG). This ultra-thin heating element provides precise temperature control, with printed food layers reaching 137°C on the surface and maintaining at least 105°C on the sides throughout the printing process, while using just 14 watts of power - a fraction of the 1000-2000 watts consumed by conventional ovens and air fryers.

Sparc Technologies and its partner Flinders University have been awarded funding under Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite grant program. They will receive a grant of AU$353,098 (around US$220,800). 

The 12-month project aims to accelerate development and validation of a graphene-enhanced material that can be utilized in aquaculture nets to mitigate biofouling and increase net strength and durability. This technology has the potential to result in a significant reduction in fish farm operational costs, environmental impact, biosecurity and fish health risks. 

Universal Matter GBR has collaborated with Tarmac, the UK's largest road construction firm, and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council to use the Genable™ Pavement additive road surface in the UK's North East. The innovative material, which is said to be more durable and environmentally friendly, was used on a public road in Teesside.

The addition of graphene to the asphalt is said to extend the road's lifespan by reducing rutting and cracking, and increasing resistance to potholes. This promises a 'smoother journey' for drivers and less damage to vehicles, potentially leading to 'significant reductions' in the carbon footprint of roads. 

HydroGraph Clean Power has announced a technical collaboration with a leading global synthetic fiber manufacturer to explore the application of its graphene technology in high-performance fiber applications within the $191 billion global textile and technical fiber market. 

This initiative aims to enhance fiber performance attributes such as mechanical durability and energy absorption, aligning with HydroGraph’s strategic focus on advanced material solutions. 

Following good results from a vessel treated with GIT Coatings’ graphene-based propeller coating XGIT-PROP in 2023, Tampa, Fla.-headquartered Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. (OSG) is to adopt the solution on seven further crude oil tankers.

The first application saw performance gains and fuel savings proven beyond expectations which was further validated by a third party with the vessel being tracked along its trade route covering the Pacific Ocean. “At OSG, we believe sustainable technology such as XGIT-PROP provides an opportunity for us to enhance our performance while also being stewards of the ocean,” said Eric Schreiber, director of operational excellence at OSG. “From the initial application study, XGIT-PROP is a proven product which both benefits vessel efficiency while also providing environmentally friendly impacts, which we will also consider for our new LCO2 vessel designs by Aptamus Carbon Solutions, a new subsidiary of OSG.”

Frontier IP, a specialist in commercializing intellectual property, has announced that its portfolio company GraphEnergyTech (Frontier IP holds a 23.97% equity stake in GraphEnergyTech) has entered into a collaboration with the Taiwan Perovskite Solar Corporation, Taiwan's prestigious Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), and the University of Cambridge to drive development of perovskite solar technology. 

This new project that the four organizations have formed will be called Graphene Electrode Technology for Perovskite Solar Cells (or "GETPSC") and it has secured a £884,129 (over US$1,115,000) grant from Innovate UK.