Researchers at the Berkeley Lab have discovered topologically protected 1D electron conducting channels at the domain walls of bi-layer graphene. These conducting channels are valley polarized, meaning they can serve as filters for electron valley polarization in future valleytronics applications like quantum computers. Valleytronics involves the coding of data in the wavelike motion of electrons as they speed through a semiconductor, and these 1D valley-polarized conducting channels indicate that graphene could be of value for valleytronics applications in the future.

The researchers used focused beams of infrared light to image bi-layer graphene layer-stacking domain walls on device substrates. Field effect devices fabricated over these domain walls revealed the 1D conducting channels, which featured a ballistic length of about 400 nanometers at 4 kelvin.

Skeleton Technologies is a European company with HQ in Germany and R&D in Estonia, that develops and manufactures supercapacitors. The company has devised a unique process to produce "curved graphene" from silicon carbide, which it uses in their line of commercially available supercapacitors called "SkelCap". The company states that their products deliver twice as much energy storage capacity and five times higher power performance compared to other ultracapacitors. The high degree of purity of curved graphene also ensures up to two times higher current tolerance, and four times lower resistance.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has recently chosen the company's products for use in spacecrafts, possibly by 2018. ESA representatives say this technology has the potential to increase mission safety while reducing mission costs. Skeleton Technologies’ SpaceCap cells will allow the packaging of a large amount of power into a very small space, creating opportunities for new applications.

Arvia, The UK-based water and wastewater treatment company that uses the graphene-based Nyex to remove pollutants from water, has recently secured a £140,000 grant. The funds come from the Catalyst for Growth fund, managed by the University of Chester and part of a Government-led plan to encourage innovation and economic growth in regional areas of England.

In June, the company will also move to a new UK location, which will enable it to take on new staff and apply its technology to large-scale industrial projects. The company claims it has already successfully shown how the technology can be used to remove toxic chemicals from water, and is now seeking the cooperation of large municipalities that are willing to adopt this innovative technology.