An international collaboration of scientists from the University of Basel and the Swiss Empa have studied the above-average lubricity of graphene using a two-pronged approach combining experimentation and computation. The researchers state that the results of this study help them to better understand the manipulation of chemicals at the nano level and pave the way for creating frictionless coatings.

To do this, they anchored 2D strips of carbon atoms (graphene nanoribbons) to a sharp tip and dragged them across a gold surface. Computer-based calculations were used to investigate the interactions between the surfaces as they moved across one another. Using this approach, the research team hoped to gain a better understanding of the causes of superlubricity.

Sunvault Energy and Edison Power Company announced that they have signed a solar energy generation and large scale battery storage project in Delaware. The total size of the project is 484kW with both Solar Photovoltaics and 600kW/300kWh Battery Storage for 3 fire stations.

The project is meant to start immediately as Sunvault has existing inventory of solar panels to begin project design and construction. The Company plans to utilize the Sunvault / Edison Graphene Electrical Energy Storage device (EESD) as the "battery" component within the projects, further demonstrating the technology in actual field.

American Graphite Technologies announced that it has extended its agreement with the Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology (KIPT) and Science and Technology Centre in Ukraine (STCU) to further its research of its 3D graphene printing project, called P-600. The project was launched in 2013, as a cooperation between these institutes to research the possibility of using graphene-based materials as the working materials for 3D printing.

American Graphite Technologies representatives state that they are encouraged by the progress that the team has made to date and are very excited about extending the P-600 research project. American Graphite Technologies Inc. is funding project P-600, and hold the rights to all intellectual property developed from the project.

Researchers at Kansas State University, University of Buffalo and the State University of New York have designed a new technique for 3D printing graphene aerogels with complex microstructures. The technique combines drop-on-demand 3D printing with freeze casting.

Aerogels are light and spongy materials that can be used as both thermal and optical insulators and can potentially be used as batteries and catalysts within electronic components. Recent years have brought about methods in which aerogels can be produced with certain 3D printers. The scientists have now developed a new 3D printing technique for producing graphene aerogels, which they hope will open up new uses for the material.