Researchers from the University of Manchester demonstrated that when growing graphene on a hexagonal substrate (hBN, or hexagonal Boron-Nitride, in that case), small changes in the crystal structure can open a band-gap in the graphene. The researchers also demonstrated that a graphene grown on the hBN can exist in an alternative structure in which the band gap is much smaller.

The lattice structure of hBN (also called white graphene) is quite similar to graphene. When you place the graphene on top of the hBN, a moiré superlattice is created. The periodic potential associated with this superlattice causes a number of new and interesting electronic phenomena to occur in graphene, including Hofstadter's butterfly, which has been shown before.

I'm happy to announce our new investor forums. A lot of people are seeing a great future with graphene, and are interested in investing in the industry. In the past few months several pure-play graphene company went public, and now investors can use our new forums to get new ideas and share their information.

If you want to post a new forum topic, contact us and we will setup your new account. Registered users can also post comments on graphene-info stories (and forum topics) without approval.

Happy conversing and good luck with your investments...

After four years of existence, Graphenea (a graphene-info sponsor) has revamped its corporate image and website this month. Here's the new company logo and following is a sponsored message from the Graphenea team:

On Graphenea's website, you can still find the high quality graphene oxide and graphene films, as well as other graphene products. Alongside, the Graphenea website boasts a list of publications, addressing in depth various graphene topics, such as the popular graphene price article, an article on applications and uses of graphene, and other informative articles on aspects related to graphene commercialization.

Researchers from the University of California and Rice University developed a new rapid method to synthesize high quality large-area Bernal (AB) stacked bilayer graphene sheets.

During the same research, the first bi-layer graphene double-gate field-effect transistor (G-FET) was also demonstrated. This G-FET features the best on/off switching ratio and carrier mobility.

A couple of weeks ago we reported that Versarien acquired 2-DTech (a subsidiary of the University of Manchester) for £440,000 (around $740,000). The University of Manchester now announced that the deal is complete, and that Versarien actually acquired 85% of the company (the rest is probably still owned by the University).

The University updated that Versarien will also set up an intellectual property and research collaboration with the University, initially investing some £300,000 ($500,000) in two projects.

It has been shown before (here, and here for example) that graphene can make excellent highly sensitive strain sensors. One of the applications is human health evaluation via physiological motion detection and now researchers from two universities in China developed a method that uses graphene based sensors to monitor human motions.

The researchers developed simple-structured and low-cost graphene woven fabrics (GWFs) strain sensor. The GWFs were made using CVD to grow graphene on crisscross copper meshes. The copper mash was later etched away and the graphene fabric was transferred to a pretreated film composited with medical tape and PDMS glue, which is a flexible, biocompatible, shape controllable material. Silver wires were used to connect the graphene.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania developed an artificial chemical sensor based on one of the human body’s most important receptors (mu-opioid), one that is critical in the action of painkillers and anesthetics.

The researchers attached a modified version of this mu-opioid receptor to strips of graphene, and have paved a way towards mass production of such sensors, which could be useful for drug development and diagnostics.

In January 2014, Canadian graphite mining company Mason Graphite announced that it acquired up to a 40% stake in NanoXplore for $700,000.

Yesterday Mason announced that it completed the second tranche of its investment in NanoXplore by investing $350,000 for an additional 20% interest in NanoXplore. As part of the agreement, Mason Graphite was appointed NanoXplore's sales, marketing and distribution agent.

Researchers from the University of Arizona discovered how to change the crystal structure of graphene with an electric field. This unique technique may enable graphene transistors - and electronics and microprocessors applications.

The researchers used trilayer graphene, in which the top layer can be placed in two different ways - either the atoms are placed on the atoms of the bottom layer or with a slight offset (so the atoms are placed on the space between the bottom layer atoms). In a tri-layer graphene sheet, this happens naturally and actually the two stacking configurations exist together with a sharp boundary between them.