Researchers at MIT have found a way to directly pinprick microscopic holes into graphene as the material is grown in the lab. Using this technique, they have fabricated relatively large sheets of graphene (roughly the size of a postage stamp), with pores that could make filtering certain molecules out of solutions vastly more efficient.

Holes would typically be considered unwanted defects, but the MIT team has found that certain defects in graphene can be an advantage in fields such as dialysis. Typically, much thicker polymer membranes are used in laboratories to filter out specific molecules from solution, such as proteins, amino acids, chemicals, and salts. If it could be tailored with selectively-sized pores that let through certain molecules but not others, graphene could substantially improve separation membrane technology.

Graphene-Info is happy to launch The Graphene Crowdfunding Arena, a new platform that connects investors with graphene companies seeking funds. Crowdfunding can work as an alternative to, or in tandem with, angel or venture/strategic financing, allowing businesses to obtain a diverse range of value-added capital.

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Graphene-related companies are welcome to take advantage of the largest investor base in Europe - coupled with the world's largest graphene community. Attracting funds from within the graphene industry is a great opportunity - let strategic graphene investors become your best supporters!

Automotive giant Ford has announced that it will become the first automaker to use graphene parts in its vehicles, starting with the Mustang and F-150 by the end of 2018.

Ford acknowledges the difficulties of graphene manufacturing and use, but in partnership with Eagle Industries and XG Sciences, it has determined a way to make use of graphene reinforcement in certain components to strengthen and lighten them, as well as reduce noise. Since 2014, Ford and its partners have tested graphene-reinforced foam covers for noisy components such as the fuel rail, pumps, and belt-driven pulleys or chain-driven gears on the front of engines. The graphene is mixed with foam constituents, and the resulting parts are said to be 17% quieter, 20% stronger, and 30% more heat-resistant.

Urbix Resources has announced the first economically viable graphene-enhanced lightweight concrete, an achievement that according to Urbix represents an industry breakthrough.

Designed in collaboration with one of the world’s largest producers of lightweight concrete, Urbix’s solution is said to deliver material performance improvements, but at a cost that is lower than current lightweight concrete alternatives. A graphene industry first.

The Industrial Technology and Science group in IBM Research-Brazil, along with other academic collaboration partners, has reportedly proven for the first time that it is possible to electrify graphene so that it deposits material at any desired location at a solid surface with an almost-perfect turnout of 97%. Using graphene in this way enables the integration of nanomaterials at wafer scale and with nanometer precision.

Artistic rendering of electric field-assisted placement of nanoscale materials between pairs of opposing graphene electrodes structured into a large graphene layer located on top of a solid substrate

Not only has this new work shown that it is possible to deposit material at a specific, nanoscale location, it was also reported that this can be done in parallel, at multiple deposition sites, meaning it’s possible to integrate nanomaterials at mass scale. This work has been patented.

Today we published new versions of all our graphene market reports. Graphene-Info provides comprehensive niche graphene market reports, and our reports cover everything you need to know about these niche markets. The reports are now updated to October 2018.

The Graphene Batteries Market Report:

• The advantages using graphene batteries
• The different ways graphene can be used in batteries
• Various types of graphene materials
• What's on the market today
• Detailed specifications of some graphene-enhanced anode material
• Personal contact details into most graphene developers

The report package provides a good introduction to the graphene battery - present and future. It includes a list of all graphene companies involved with batteries and gives detailed specifications of some graphene-enhanced anode materials and contact details into most graphene developers. Read more here!

The following is a sponsored post by IDTechEx

Graphene is not a young material: the Noble Prize was awarded in 2010 and the first pioneering firms were established before that c. 2006. Graphene thus has more than a decade of commercial experience already. As IDTechEx have argued previously, after all this time, graphene is becoming increasingly available and affordable and is finally findings its first wave of volume markets. In this article, we will look at the evolution of graphene commercialization so far and will offer some insights about the future.

This article is based on our continuous research programme on graphene, CNTs and other 2D materials. It draws heavily from Graphene, 2D Materials and Carbon Nanotubes: Markets, Technologies and Opportunities 2018-2028. This report provides the most comprehensive analysis of graphene, CNTs and 2D materials. It offers detailed technology reviews, up-to-date assessment of past, present and future of prices and production capacities, insightful yet critical application analysis, and ten-year segmented market forecasts segmented by application. This report also has extensive coverage of the industry players.

Paragraf, the UK-based graphene technology development company, has announced the opening of an R&D facility in Cambridge. This follows the May 2018 announcement regarding seed investment of £2.9 million. The new site represents a turning point for graphene-based technologies, according to Paragraf, which it hopes will drive large-scale development of mass-market, graphene-based electronic devices.

Paragraf says its proprietary production technique overcomes the quality, contamination and reproducibility barriers faced by other graphene production methods. The customized equipment at the Cambridge facility will also allow Paragraf to convert its laboratory research into novel products, including next generation sensors, solid state electronics and energy storage cells.

Greece-based industrial paint producer Hydroton has launched a new graphene-enhanced zinc epoxy paint - the 23303 ZINCTON GNC. This is a two-component epoxy based coating that offers improved cathodic protection due to the addition of the graphene, compared to epoxy zinc rich primers.

The new primer also offers improved adhesion to metal and as the zinc content is low, it is still cost effective. It is recommended for applications in highly corrosive environments.

XG Sciences has announced the completion of the first phase of expansion in its newest 64,000 square-foot facility. The expansion has added 90 metric tons of graphene nanoplatelet production capacity, bringing the total capacity of the facility up to approximately 180 metric tons and enabling the formulation of up to 18 million kilograms of advanced materials per year. Phase two of the expansion is expected to be complete by year-end and will result in up to 400 metric tons of total graphene nanoplatelet output capacity at the facility.

XG's total graphene nanoplatelet output capacity across both of its manufacturing facilities currently exceeds 200 metric tons per year and will more than double over the next three months, reaching up to an approximate 450 metric tons by year-end. The expansions support XG’s mission to continue commercializing the use of graphene in customer products across diverse industries.