Researchers from Rice University developed a method to create a hybrid graphene-nanotube material that promises to have a better electrical and mechanical qualities than both materials. They call this new material "rebar graphene" because it resembles the way a rebar is used in concrete.

The researchers say that the resulting material contains large, flexible and conductive transparent sheets of graphene that are much easier to manipulate than pure graphene. A few layers of this new material could prove to be a cost-effective ITO alternative for displays and solar cells.

Graphene Nanochem signed a joint-venture agreement with Emery Advanced Materials to co-develop new applications for Graphene Nanochem's graphene-based nanomaterials.

Graphene Nanochem says that the Emery Group is one of the world's largest oleochemical from renewable sources producers. The two companies will develop three applications with a combined market value of over $100 billion.

Grafoid signed an agreement with Altamat to construct an atomization facility to produce MesoGraf graphene-based powders and filaments for 3D printing. The agreement gives Grafoid an exclusive global right to apply technologies invented by Altamat's Dr. Henein for use in a wide range of functionalized powders for 3D printing applications.

Altamat is an advanced materials manufacturing consultancy founded by Dr. Henein, who has expertise in materials process engineering for metals, metallic alloys and composites. The atomization facility will be built at Grafoid's facility located in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Samsung announced that they developed a breakthrough large-area graphene synthesis process. The company says this is one of the most significant breakthroughs in graphene research ever, and they expect this new technique to accelerate graphene commercialization towards applications in electronics.

This process was discovered by researchers at Samsung's Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) in collaboration with Sungkyunkwan University. The process can be used to grow single crystal graphene on the current semiconductor wafer scale while maintaining graphene's electric and mechanical properties.

Poland based graphene producer Nano Carbon (that began to produce graphene materials in December 2013) announced that Polish defense group Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa acquired a controlling stake (51%) in the company

This is a new defense group that is being formed by the Polish Ministry of Treasury. According to the reports from Poland, the Polish military is researching possible graphene uses in applications such as night goggles, gas masks, combat helmets and armored fighting vehicles.

CVD Materials Corporation (a subsidiary of CVD Equipment) is now accepting orders for 300 mm graphene grown on a copper foil. This production is based on the company's patent-pending CVD graphene process.

CVD says that their EasyGraphene manufacturing solution is easy, reliable and robust. The company anticipates that this process will become the high quality CVD graphene production standard.

India's Tata Steel signed a strategic partnership with the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to co-develop graphene-coated steel and other innovations.

The graphene coating may help the steel against corrosion, make it stronger and also enable a high degree of electrical conductivity.

Researchers from the US and Saudi Arabia developed a micron-sized microbial fuel cell (MFC) containing multilayer graphene that works using saliva or other waste liquids. Such an MFC (that can produce almost 1µW in power) may find applications in bioelectronics (lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care diagnostics, for example).

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) rely on bacteria to generate electricity from waste. The bacteria in the device break down organic matter and this process releases electrons that can be collected at an anode. The electrons then travel through an external circuit to the cathode to produce electrical current.

Researchers from the University of Southern California developed better performing and cheaper Li-Ion batteries. The researchers developed new cathode and anode materials.

The anode in the new batteries is made from Silicon, and they say that this anode is three times more powerful and longer lasting compared to a typical graphite anodes. The cathode they used is made from sulfur powder coated with graphene oxide.

Future Carbon, a carbon nanomaterials and supercomposites developer and manufacturer, announced that is acquired several graphene and CNT patents from Bayer.

Future Carbon hopes to commercialize Bayer's technology. Bayer themselves withdrew from the CNT market in 2013. Bayer has been researching carbon nanotubes for over 10 years and the IP includes complex issues relating to safe production and methods for scaling up the production processes. Bayer's IP also includes next-generation catalysts and new product grades.