Photonics

Project Next-2Digits launches for next generation of sensors and imagers

A new Horizon Europe funded project was launched in October 2023. With a consortium of 11 partners from 8 different countries, the Next-2Digits project aims to develop the next generation of sensors and imagers enabled by 2D materials digital integration. Next-2Digits will run for 3 years and 3 months.

Coordinated by the National Technical University of Athens, Next-2Digits benefits from the presence of academic, research and industrial teams, whose areas of work span from graphene and 2D materials synthesis, characterization, manipulation, and integration, as well as in the fields of photonics, material science, application-based integration technologies and validation.

Read the full story Posted: Dec 14,2023

Researchers design semitransparent image sensors for eye-tracking applications using graphene and QDs

A team of researchers from The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (ICFO) and Barcelona-based startup Qurv Technologies have designed flexible, nearly transparent graphene-enhanced image sensors that could be hidden in plain sight.

The sensors, based on graphene and quantum dots, could be integrated directly onto eyeglasses or curved windshields, placed right in front of a user’s eyes. This could make eye-tracking hardware less bulky, improve the accuracy of gaze detection, and reduce computational complexity, says Frank Koppens, who co-led the research and co-founded Qurv in 2020.

Read the full story Posted: Sep 17,2023

CamGraPhIC secured new funding

Frontier IP Group has reportedly agreed to a new loan facility worth up to £1.5 million with portfolio company CamGraPhIC, that specializes in graphene photonics.

Aimed to advance CamGraPhIC’s growth in the high-speed optical communications space, the latest facility brings the total amount advanced by Frontier IP to the company to £2.2 million.

Read the full story Posted: Jul 25,2023

Researchers use graphene-like photonic crystal to demonstrate fourth edge state

Graphene and graphene-like materials can host—at their edges—localized states whose properties can differ dramatically from those of bulk states. Three types of edge states have been established in these materials—zigzag, bearded, and armchair—named after their geometry. Now, researchers from Nankai University and Shanxi University used a graphene-like photonic crystal to demonstrate the possibility of a fourth edge, called twig, with exotic topological features. Their results may broaden the understanding of graphene edge states, as well as open new avenues for realization of robust edge localization and nontrivial topological phases based on Dirac-like materials.

The team explained that the main findings were that the twig edge is a generic type of honeycomb lattice (HCL) edge complementary to the armchair edge, formed by choosing the right primitive cell (rather than simple lattice cutting or Klein edge modification). In addition, the twig edge states form a complete flat band across the Brillouin zone with zero-energy degeneracy, characterized by nontrivial topological winding of the lattice Hamiltonian. The twig edge states can also be elongated or compactly localized at the boundary, manifesting both flat band and topological features. 

Read the full story Posted: Jul 12,2023

Researchers realize zero-bias operation of a graphene photodetector

NTT Corporation and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have jointly reported the realization of what they define as "the world's fastest zero-bias operation (220 GHz) of a graphene photodetector (PD)". The research conducted by NTT and NIMS has also, according to the statement, clarified the optical-to-electrical (O-E) conversion process in graphene for the first time.

Graphene is a promising photodetection material for enabling high-speed O-E conversion at wavelength ranges where existing semiconductor devices cannot operate, thanks to its high sensitivity and high-speed electrical response to a wide range of electromagnetic waves, from terahertz (THz) to ultraviolet (UV). However, until now, the demonstrated zero-bias operating speed has been limited to 70 GHz due to conventional device structure and measurement equipment. For this reason, the challenge for graphene PDs is to demonstrate 200-GHz operation speeds and clarify graphene's inherent properties, such the process of optical-to-electrical conversion.

Read the full story Posted: Sep 28,2022

CamGraPhIC raises over USD$981,000

GamGraPhic, a Cambridge University spin out developing graphene-based photonics technology, announced a raise of £813,475 (over USD$981,000) from Wealth Club clients through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS). Proceeds from the funding will be used to complete fabrication and testing of the demonstration devices.

This takes its total amount raised to £1.26 million, which has been raised through an equity funding round from existing and new investors led by Frontier IP and Wealth Club. A previous funding round, in September 2021, raised £1.6 million, valuing the company at £7.2 million.

Read the full story Posted: Aug 05,2022

Researchers design non-volatile switches that manipulate light using phase-change materials and graphene heaters

A team of researchers from Stanford University, University of Washington, The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, University of Maryland and MIT have reported the design of an energy-efficient, silicon-based non-volatile switch that manipulates light through the use of a phase-change material and graphene heater.

Data centers are dedicated spaces for storing, processing and disseminating data, that enable various applications, from cloud computing to video streaming. In the process, they consume a large amount of energy; As the need for data use grows, so does the need to make data centers more energy-efficient.

Read the full story Posted: Jul 09,2022

Frontier IP provides funding to graphene-based photonics developer CamGraPhIC

Frontier IP Group subscribed to £842,810 of loan notes from portfolio company CamGraPhIC as part of a £1.5 million loan designed to help accelerate growth of CamGraPhIC, spun out of the University of Cambridge to develop graphene-based photonics for high-speed data and telecommunications.

CamGraphIC says it is currently working with partners to fabricate proof-of-concept sample devices.

Read the full story Posted: Jul 10,2021

Introducing: The CVD Graphene Market Report

Graphene-Info is proud to present our new market report, The CVD Graphene Market Report. This market report, brought to you by the world's leading graphene industry experts, is a comprehensive guide to CVD graphene materials, the current industry and market status, and the promising applications in optoelectronics, bio-sensors, thermal solutions and more.

Reading this report, you'll learn all about:

  • How does CVD graphene differ from other graphene types
  • CVD graphene properties
  • Possible applications for CVD graphene
  • Available materials on the market

The report also provides a list of prominent CVD graphene research activities, a list of all CVD graphene developers and their products, datasheets and brochures from over 10 different CVD graphene makers and more.

Read the full story Posted: Mar 24,2021