Researchers at University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), the Kavli Energy Nanosciences Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology, Shenzhen University and Tsinghua University recently developed a tunable and reversible approach, based on laser-assisted chlorination, to chemically dope graphene. 

Many different chemical doping techniques were devised in order to control the sign and concentration of charge carriers in different material samples. Chemical doping methods essentially entail introducing impurities into materials or substances to change their electrical properties. These methods have been successfully applied on several materials including van der Waals (vdW) materials. VdW materials are structures characterized by strongly bonded 2D layers, which are bound in the third dimension through weaker dispersion forces.

Directa Plus announced that it is seeing a strong increase in sales and perfomrnace, and the company expects its full-year revenues to increase by more than 40% compared to last year (for which revenues reached 8.6 million Euro).

The company says that inflation increased its costs and reduced its margins, but the company invested in new manufacturing equipment which should deliver productivity gains and margin efficiencies in the second half of the year.

Scientists from Vanderbilt University recently developed a lightweight and ultra-compact graphene-based filter that can block aerosolized nanoparticles of size in the sub-20 nm range. 

Nanoparticulate aerosols contain toxins, pollutants, and harmful viruses, whose size varies between 20 and 300 nm in diameter. Although conventional air filters, such as 95% efficiency filter (N95) and the high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA), exhibit superior air flow rates, they are unable to inhibit nanoparticulate aerosols whose size is less than 300 nm. Facemasks that can block nanoparticulate aerosols of size below 300 nm are bulky and develop thermal stress due to low breathability. To improve the applicability of PPEs, several strategies are implemented that focus on making porous polymers, with greater thickness, which can filter out nanoparticulate aerosol toxins, pathogens, and pollutants.

Novusterra, a U.S-based company focused on developing and commercializing high-value products and applications for graphene and carbon nanostructures, has announced that it has acquired the exclusive rights to patents for graphene and carbon nanostructure from American Resources Corporation in exchange for $16 million of Class A common Novusterra shares.

Andrew Weeraratne, CEO of Novusterra, commented, "We are excited to complete this transaction to drive fundamental value for our shareholders and build a world class team to help navigate the growth of the company in the future. The technologies are a gamechanger when it comes to the graphene and carbon nanostructure industry given the low-cost feed stock (waste carbon) that is utilized in the manufacturing process. Not only are we able to clean up the environment but also produce some of the highest quality products and applications in the world for the sustainable infrastructure and electrification industry".