Scientists at The University of Manchester, along with a team at Shandong University, have designed a graphene-based electrical nano-device that could substantially increase the energy efficiency of fossil fuel-powered cars.

The nano-device, known as a 'ballistic rectifier', can convert heat which would otherwise be wasted from the car exhaust and engine body into a usable electrical current. The recovered energy can then be used to power additional automotive features such as air conditioning and power steering, or be stored in the car battery.

XG Sciences has received a DOE Round 2 small business award for $150,000, which it will use to support its efforts to develop low-cost manufacturing of a silicon-graphene composite anode. According to the company, one goal for the new anode type is to reduce the formation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI).

The SEI layer is a film composed of electrolyte reduction products that start forming on the surface of the anode during the initial battery charge. It functions as an ionic conductor that enables lithium to migrate through the film during charging and discharging allowing the battery to operate in an efficient and reversible manner. Under typical operating conditions, it also serves as an electronic insulator that prevents further electrolyte reduction on the anode. However, as the silicon in next-generation anodes expands and contracts, it essentially cracks apart that layer and then makes more. Over time it ends up with a very thick resistive film on the anode, which causes it to lose both capacity and power.

Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a method to 3D print heating elements. The created heating elements could be very small and at the same time they can create high temperatures.

Heating elements may have various uses, like ones for chemical reactions that often need some sort of heating to work. For this purpose it was common to use a laser to create high temperatures at a small scale, but it is very expensive and doesn’t provide a consistent temperature. This is why researchers decided to develop a new technique to 3D print very small heating elements.

Haydale has announced a new joint development agreement with the Saudi Arabian pipe producer Amiantit's Flowtite Technology, an R&D headquarters based in Norway, to develop pipeline solutions utilizing advanced materials technology including Haydale functionalized graphene based thermosetting resin masterbatches.

Flowtite Technology is the wholly owned GRP Pipe technology and R&D Center of The Saudi Arabian Amiantit Company, a world leading glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) pipe company. The company has annual revenues in excess of USD$700 million, and is a leading global supplier of water transport, sewer, irrigation and gas systems.

Graphene ESD has announced the successful completion of its development project, undertaken jointly with the Research Foundation of Stony Brook University (SBU), that explored a novel method for assembly of high-voltage supercapacitor units.

The team assembled and tested a 10 V supercapacitor energy storage unit, thus proving feasibility of the high-voltage design. This development opens the door for new low-cost energy storage products. Currently, GESD is working on scale-up of the technology and an in-field evaluation of the energy storage unit.

Elcora Advanced Materials recently reported on the progress of its Graphene R&D Lab in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Construction of the graphene production facility commenced in February 2016 and the equipment is now in place and commissioning is reportedly on schedule.

According to the company, the lab will develop and optimize a small industrial-sized graphene production chain, as well as conduct graphene research in energy storage, coatings and printed electronics, developing commercial applications. The (approximately) 2000 sq ft size Lab is designed to provide secondary refining of the company's graphite from the Ragedara Mine in Sri Lanka as well as other graphite deposits, and to produce quality graphene for distribution and sale to other R&D organizations. In addition, it will also be used to conduct Elcora's own internal graphene application development, as part of the company's vertical integration plan.