Directa Plus, Italy-based producer and supplier of graphene-based products for use in consumer and industrial markets, has announced the launch of two new textile collections containing its Graphene Plus (G+) by Colmar, a high-end sports and activewear company, and Eurojersey, a producer of high quality warp-knit technical fabrics under its Sensitive Fabrics brand.

Both collections were unveiled at ISPO 2018, the sport and sportswear international trade fair held in Munich. The launch of the Ski Winter 2018/19 collection marks Colmar’s third winter range with Directa Plus. The new collection has been expanded to consist of 31 garments incorporating G+, including male and female ski jackets and newly-released graphene-enhanced ski trousers. It reportedly follows the commercial success of two previous ski collections.

Researchers from Clemson's Nanomaterials Institute (CNI) have made progress towards their goal to produce wireless power using triboelectricity - a green energy source invented by the CNI In March 2017. The simple triboelectric nanogenerator, or U-TENG, is a small device made simply of plastic and tape that generates electricity from motion and vibrations. When the two materials are brought together - through clapping your hands or tapping your feet, for example - a voltage is generated that is detected by a wired, external circuit. Electrical energy, by way of the circuit, is then stored in a capacitor or a battery until it's needed.

Later advancements caused the researchers to uncover a wireless version of TENG, called the W-TENG, which greatly expands the applications of the technology. The W-TENG was engineered under the same premise as the U-TENG, using materials that are so opposite in affinity for electrons that they generate a voltage when brought in contact with each other.

Graphmatech, a Sweden-based startup that develops graphene-based nanocomposite materials, has announced a recent breakthrough made at Uppsala University which reportedly "solves the practical implementation issues of graphene".

The Company explains that up until now, a major challenge has been agglomeration under upscaling that has prevented utilization of graphene in real-life applications. "The novel hybrid ionic graphene material named Aros Graphene solves this and is expected to revolutionize the way we design electronics, energy storage and mechanical systems".

Talga Resources has announced the execution of a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Robert Bosch - a Germany-based multinational engineering and electronics company.

Talga and Bosch have entered into the MOU to commence preparatory work regarding a development project in the field of utilizing graphene in the synthesis of macroscopic structures.

Zenyatta Ventures has announced significant results from the cement-based composite test work that was recently conducted by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel. BGU tested the performance of Zenyatta graphene oxide in a new cement/concrete admixture and the results demonstrated a remarkable reinforcing effect, with a compressive strength enhancement of 34% and a flexural strength enhancement of 62% over normal cement paste.

Dr. Oren Regev, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at BGU, stated These enhancements are among the highest reported in the literature for nanocarbon-loaded matrices (Carbon nanotubes, graphene nanoplatelets and other GO available in the market), suggesting that Zenyatta GO is extremely attractive for cement nano-reinforcement.

Imperial College London researchers aim to reduce the weight of body armor by combining silk with graphene. The team hypothesized that by improving on the Kevlar layer, they could reduce the size of the ceramic outer layer, making the vest much more wearable.

They initially looked at spider silk (as it is known to be 10 times tougher than Kevlar) but soon reached the conclusion that it would be too expensive and difficult. Instead, they turned to silk from silkworms, produced for thousands of years through sericulture. But while it is much easier to produce, it is not as tough as spider silk. To improve this, they added graphene.

Surwon Technology, a Hong Kong based materials developer, has reported a new graphene-based technique with the potential of doubling the life-time performance of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

The challenge for all energy dependent applications lies in creating a more robust, efficient battery fuel cell. We have found that graphene provides us with substantial flexibility as we continue to manipulate electrical behavior at the atomic level, commented Surwon Technology’s Chief Technology Officer.