Deloitte and Touche presents its 2016 predictions and insights on the graphene market, and states that the graphene materials market in 2016 is likely to be in the low tens of millions of dollars (likely not to surpass $30 million). It also says that it may be decades before this material’s potential is fully realized: by the end of the decade material sales may still be a little more than $100 million, which represents growth, but also a continuation of the research phase.

D&T foresees that in 2016, and most likely in the decade to come, graphene will be in a research and prototyping phase. While products marketed as ‘graphene’ may be on the market in 2016, many will likely be constructed from other, more traditional materials, and contain a very limited quantity of graphene. However, research and development spending for the year is likely to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and in the medium term graphene may be incorporated into products worth many billions of dollars per year.

Imperial Innovations is a group that started life as part of Imperial College in London, and now invests in turning university research into businesses. Now, it is investing £25 million in finding the next wonder material, with graphene as one of the materials under examination.

Imperial Innovations stated that its investment of £25 million will be accompanied by another £25 million from the European Investment Bank, targeted at turning research into physical sciences and life sciences at University College London (UCL) into real businesses.

Alabama Graphite Corporation declared its intention to leave the graphene business, until there is a major graphene-based commercial application which calls for significant amounts of graphene supply.

Monash University researchers have designed a graphene-based stretchable material that can snap back into shape after being deformed. This new elastomer, called G-elastomer, could be used to create soft, tactile robots, perform remote surgical procedures or build highly sensitive prosthetic hands.

The G-elastomer is highly sensitive to pressure and vibrations. Unlike other viscoelastic substances, such as polyurethane foam or rubber, G-elastomer bounces back extremely quickly under pressure, despite its exceptionally soft nature. It is flexible, ultra-light and can detect pressures and vibrations across a broad bandwidth of frequencies. It far exceeds the response range of human skin, and it also has a very fast response time, much faster than conventional polymer elastomer.

Researchers at the Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed a highly heat-resistant and high-strength resin based on chemical graphene oxide processing and mixing with universal epoxy. The new material is expected to contribute to the production of lightweight aircraft and rockets.

An epoxy resin is a material that stabilizes the structures of carbon composite materials.The institute found that multiple amine groups present around graphene oxides bond with epoxy resins to result in a number of cross-linked bonds and a 240% improvement in cross-linking density.

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have simulated a new concept for rapid, accurate gene sequencing by pulling a DNA molecule through a tiny hole in graphene and detecting changes in electrical current. This new method might ultimately be faster and cheaper than conventional DNA sequencing.

The study suggests that the method could identify about 66 billion bases (the smallest units of genetic information) per second with 90% accuracy and no false positives. Conventional sequencing involves separating, copying, labeling and reassembling pieces of DNA to read the genetic information. The new NIST way offers a twist on the more recent "nanopore sequencing" idea of pulling DNA through a hole in specific materials, originally a protein. This concept is based on the passage of electrically charged particles (ions) through the pore and poses challenges such as unwanted electrical noise and inadequate selectivity.

A team of researchers at the University of Manchester has shown that graphene could be used to control the frequency of terahertz lasers, opening up the possibility of a new area of technology using terahertz lasers in improved scanning systems, X-ray replacements, and dramatically increased internet bandwidth.

The researchers explain that graphene can assist in creating a platform to electronically control devices and flexibly engineer device output. This new alternative method of scanning materials could dramatically improve the efficiency and accuracy of analyzing materials in the pharmaceutical, security and agricultural industries. The scientists explain that current terahertz devices do not allow for tuneable properties, and a new device would have to be made each time requirements changed. Graphene, however, can allow for terahertz devices to be switched on and off, as well as altering their state.

An international team of researchers at Tohoku University in Japan has demonstrated the ability to interconnect graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) end to end, using molecular assembly that forms elbow structures (interconnection points). This development may provide the key to unlocking GNRs’ potential in high-performance and low-power-consumption electronics.

GNRs are interesting as their width determines their electronic properties; Narrow ones are semiconductors, while wider ones act as conductors, which basically  provides a simple way to engineer a band gap into graphene for use in electronics.

Scientists from the Institute of Physical Problems named after F. V. Lukin in Zelenograd, Russian Federation, discovered a previously unknown 3D nanostructure consisting of graphene sheets. The discovered nanostructure is a multilayer system of parallel hollow channels with quadrangular cross-section extending along the surface.

The thickness of the channel walls/facets of the nanostructure is about 1 nm, the width of the channel facets is approximately 25 nm, and the channel length reaches at least several hundreds of nanometers. This discovered nanostructure looks so extraordinary that it took some time to understand what it actually is. The structure was dramatically different from whatever had previously been observed on graphite.

Sunvault Energy and Edison Power Company announced that it recently conducted a number of tests on its graphene reinforced plastic technology. Sunvault has created a Graphene Reinforced Plastic that is cost effective and with potential uses that could change the landscape of plastics utilization. This revolutionary material can give products increased endurance but with the weight and simplicity of plastic. In addition to the material's many consumer advantages, it also has some protective attributes that are truly impressive.

Two video presentations were made, the first demonstrated the ability of the graphene reinforced plastic to stop a collection of 22 caliber and 45 caliber bullets, before demonstrating in the second video presentation the ability to stop the most commonly faced weapon of aggression in the military: the AK47.