An international team of researchers from the Center for Integrated Nanostructure Physics at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Department of Energy Science at Sungkyunkwan University in South Korea, has devised a new technique for creating a graphene-based MSC (solid-state micro-supercapacitor) that is said to deliver improved electrochemical performance, with a design based on the intricate design of leaves.

The team designed their MSC film structure in compliance with vein-textured leaves in order to take advantage of the natural transport pathways which enable efficient ion diffusion parallel to the graphene planes found within them. To create this efficient shape, the team layered a graphene-hybrid film with copper hydroxide nanowires. After many alternating layers they achieved the desired thickness, and added an acid solution to dissolve the nanowires so that a thin film with nano-impressions was all that remained.

Haydale has announced further progress in North America in the form of a service agreement with InVentures Groups, as well as the opening of a new office. The location of the new office and R&D facility, which is expected to be opened this month, is still under evaluation and likely to be in New York State.

The service agreement with InVentures is a rolling one year service agreement that dictates that InVentures will provide Haydale with financial, strategic and management planning advice to develop a center of excellence and establish Haydale as a leading provider of functionalized graphene and other nanomaterials to the North American market. In return, Haydale will provide an initial HT60 reactor to the USA to enable the functionalization of graphene and other nano materials on site. This reactor will provide sampling and low volume functionalized nano materials to the US market.