Researchers at EPFL's Bionanophotonic Systems Laboratory (BIOS) together with researchers from the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO, Spain) have harnessed graphene's unique optical and electronic properties to develop a reconfigurable and highly sensitive sensor that detects molecules like proteins and drugs.

The researchers used graphene to improve on a well-known molecule-detection method: infrared absorption spectroscopy. In that method, light is used to excite the molecules, which vibrate differently depending on their nature. The specific vibration means the molecules reveal their presence and even their identity. This "signature" can be "read" in the reflected light. This, however, is not an efficient method for the detection of nanomolecules. The wavelength of the infrared photon directed at a molecule is around 6 microns (6,000 nanometres - 0.006 millimeters), while the target measures only a few nanometres (about 0.000001 mm).

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden demonstrated how graphene films can be used for the efficient cooling of electronic devices. Disposing of excess heat in efficient ways is imperative to prolonging electronic lifespan, and would also lead to a considerable reduction in energy usage.

In 2013, Chalmers researchers had observed the impact of graphene in having a cooling effect on silicon-based technology. This earlier technique, however, was filled with problems since it consisted of only of a few layers of thermal conductive atoms and could not be used to rid electronic devices of great amounts of heat. Researchers tried to resolve this issue by stacking additional layers of graphene to augment its effect, but it ended up revealing yet another issue - as extra layers are added, it significantly lessens the ability of graphene to remain adhered to the electronic device.

Haydale has announced an agreement with Australian technology materials development company Talga Resources. As part of the collaboration, Talga and Haydale will jointly explore industrial scale business cooperation opportunities utilising Talga graphitic carbon nanomaterials, graphite and GNP’s value-added with Haydale’s proprietary low temperature plasma functionalization treatment and end user demand chains. 

The initial project will be for Haydale to analyse Talga carbon nanomaterial samples with aims of using those materials in its ongoing composite or ink research programmes and develop tailored finished or functionalized products that can be supplied to both Haydale and Talga’s end users or intermediaries for integration by them into their end use applications. Haydale is hopeful that this initial project will, over time, lead to additional projects with associated revenue streams.

Researchers at Rice University used computer models to demonstrate that twisting graphene alters its electrical properties, and produce what is known as a flexoelectric effect in which a material exhibits a spontaneous electrical polarization brought on by a strain.

When in flat sheet form, graphene's atoms have a balanced electrical charge. Putting a curve in the graphene plane, however, makes the electron clouds of the bonds on the concave side compress while on the convex side they stretch. This changes the electric dipole moment, which is a measure of the overall polarity and determines how polarized atoms interact with external electric fields. 

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, used graphene to build lightweight wireless ultrasonic loudspeakers and microphones. These devices complement standard radio transmission using electromagnetic waves in areas where radio is impractical, such as underwater, but with far greater fidelity than current ultrasound or sonar devices. They can also be used to communicate through objects, such as steel, that electromagnetic waves can’t penetrate.

Speakers and microphones both use diaphragms, typically made of paper or plastic, that vibrate to produce or detect sound. The diaphragms in the new devices are graphene sheets that have the right combination of stiffness, strength and light weight to respond to frequencies ranging from subsonic (below 20 hertz) to ultrasonic (above 20 kilohertz). Graphene is thin enough to respond immediately to pulses, and is very light so it is able to generate sharp pulses and measure distance much more accurately than traditional methods. The human hearing range is from 20 hertz up to 20,000 hertz, whereas bats hear only in the kilohertz range, from 9 to 200 kilohertz. The grapheme loudspeakers and microphones operate from well below 20 hertz to over 500 kilohertz.

A recent IDTechEx research predicts that the graphene market will reach nearly $200 million by 2026, with the estimation that the largest sectors will be composites, energy applications and graphene coatings.

Graphene inks are said to be constantly improving (while their prices seem to be dropping), which might promote, among others, applications like sensor electrodes and smart packaging. In the transparent conductive film industry, however, it is estimated that graphene will not be able to compete with ITO films.

Lux Research recently came out with a rather menacing prediction that graphene is destined to become the "next carbon nanotube". This statement refers to the massive hype that surrounded carbon nanotubes in the past, which failed to be followed by actual commercial success. Lux Research believes that graphene, despite its impressive properties and seemingly endless possibilities, will not follow in silicon's footsteps and find ubiquitous applications, but rather become closer to carbon nanotubes and find limited uses in somewhat niche markets.

Lux names three major reasons for their prediction. The first is over-aggressive capacity expansions coupled with limited commercial demand. Lux states that total global graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) production capacity has increased from around 120 tons per year in 2012 to 910 tons per year today, driven largely by aggressive Chinese capacity expansions such as by Ningbo Morsh and Xiamen Knano. On the contrary, demand growth has been significantly more sluggish, which creates a market glut.

The CEO of Versarien, developers of advanced materials and owners of 2-DTech, interviews for Proactiveinvestors and talks about the company, its business, graphene endeavors and long term plans for European expansion and more.

Researchers at VIT University, India demonstrated the application of conjugated polymer/Graphene oxide nanocomposite for thermistor applications. The study resulted in a thermistor that boasted excellent performance, suitable for electronics and sensors. A thermistor is a type of resistor whose resistance is dependent on temperature, more so than in standard resistors.

Interestingly, the study showed that lower amounts of graphene oxide (0.5, 1%) loading exhibited positive temperature coefficient, and higher loading (1.5, 2%) yielded negative temperature coefficient.

Alabama Graphite announced the closing of a $2.875 million private placement. The company issues 14,375,000 units at $0.2 each, and each unit comprises of a common share and one-half of a common share purchase warrant ($0.35 exercise price).

The proceeds of this sale will be used for drilling, testing and assessments at its graphite mines and prospects, and in addition will be used for 'graphene initiatives'.