Graphene applications: what is graphene used for? - Page 2

Researchers from Kumamoto University and Hiroshima University have announced a significant development in hydrogen ion barrier films using graphene oxide (GO) without internal pores. This approach could be beneficial for protective coatings for various applications.

In their study, the research team successfully synthesized and developed a pore-free GO (Pf-GO) membrane with controlled oxygen functional groups. Traditionally, GO has been known for its high ionic conductivity, which made it challenging to use as an ion barrier. However, by eliminating the internal pores, the team created a material with dramatically improved hydrogen ion barrier properties.

Premier Graphene, HGI Industrial Technologies and Defense Atomics have announced a strategic partnership aimed at advancing the production and application of graphene in ballistic protection technologies. This collaboration brings together expertise from the three parties to meet the growing demand for high-performance ballistic solutions.

The partnership focuses on the feasibility studies and testing of hardware developed by Defense Atomics, that integrates advanced graphene solutions for enhanced ballistic protection, ensuring compliance with the security protocols required for classified government contracts.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College London, Kumoh National Institute of Technology (KIT) and Beihang University have developed a wearable ‘smart’ choker for speech recognition, that has the potential to redefine the field of silent speech interface (SSI) thanks to embedded ultrasensitive textile strain sensor technology.

Where verbal communication is hindered, such as in locations with lots of background noise or where an individual has an existing speech impairment, SSI systems are a cutting-edge solution, enabling verbal communication without vocalization. As such, it is a type of electronic lip-reading using human-computer interaction. In their recent research, the scientists applied an overlying structured graphene layer to an integrated textile strain sensor for robust speech recognition performance, even in noisy environments.

A team of scientists from the University of Manchester has gained new understanding of lithium-ion storage within the thinnest possible battery anode - composed of just two layers of carbon atoms. Their work shows an unexpected ‘in-plane staging’ process during lithium intercalation in bilayer graphene, which could pave the way for advancements in energy storage technologies.

Lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles, store energy through a process known as ion intercalation. This involves lithium ions slipping between layers of graphite - a material traditionally used in battery anodes, when a battery is charged. The more lithium ions that can be inserted and later extracted, the more energy the battery can store and release. While this process is well-known, the microscopic details have remained unclear. The Manchester team’s discovery sheds new light on these processes by focusing on bilayer graphene, the smallest possible battery anode material.

Today we have published the latest edition of our Graphene Construction Materials Market market report, a comprehensive guide to the world of graphene-enhanced construction materials. The edition, now updated to September 2024, includes over 10 updates, more than 5 new companies and more.

Reading this report, you'll learn all about:

• The advantages of using graphene in construction materials
• Companies involved in this industry
• Projects and trials underway today
• Research activities

The report package also provides:

• Datasheets and brochures from leading companies
• A look into how graphene can reduce carbon emissions
• A look into Chinese graphene construction materials projects
• Free updates for a year

This Graphene Construction Materials market report provides a great introduction to graphene materials used in the construction industry. It is a must-read guide for anyone interested in understanding the current market, mapping the companies involved and evaluating the future of the construction industry.

Xiaomi has released its new Xiaomi Mijia Graphene Skirting Board Heater 2, a graphene radiator that boasts a powerful heating system 2.200W and a foldable format. The Xiaomi Mijia Graphene Skirting Board Heater 2 features a graphene heating technology heater capable of providing heat in just 3 seconds and heating an entire room to the desired temperature in just 15 minutes.

In 2022, Xiaomi launched the Mijia Graphene Baseboard Heater (Fire Edition). The device uses two graphene-based heating elements, and has a simulated flame function that uses an integrated humidifier and LEDs to generate the flame appearance. This new launch seems to be the next generation in the same product line.

Haydale has announced that it has signed a contract with Jersey Energy Technologies ("JET"), a start-up company focused on providing energy efficiency solutions across the Channel Islands, to begin a pilot trial deploying Haydale's underfloor heaters within social housing in Jersey.

Haydale's underfloor heating system utilizes the Company's proprietary HDPlas functionalization technology to unlock the high-level thermal conductivity properties of graphene. Data gathered from Haydale's in-house prototype systems implies up to 30% lower operating cost for their functionalized graphene ink underfloor heating compared to standard wired systems running off mains power. In test conditions, the heaters, which can be uniformly and individually heated, have also shown improvements in flexibility, and durability; reaching maximum temperatures quickly. This presents a potential commercial solution to meet the demand for improved energy efficiency, reducing heating costs for residents without trade off.

Archer Materials has started experiments to detect and monitor chronic kidney disease on its Biochip graphene field effect transistor (“gFET”) sensors.

Archer, through one of its foundry partners, has reportedly verified a process that directly grows graphene surfaces to produce enhanced devices, rather than transferring the graphene to a device from a wafer, as previously done. The team has tested the devices by storing them in normal air conditions over a two-month period, finding no significant degradation in performance. 

Researchers at Swansea University, in collaboration with China's Wuhan University of Technology and Shenzhen University, have developed a technique for producing large-scale graphene current collectors that could significantly enhance the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs).

Their recent study details the first successful protocol for fabricating defect-free graphene foils on a commercial scale. These foils offer excellent thermal conductivity - nearly ten times higher than traditional copper and aluminium current collectors used in LIBs.

Danish Graphene has announced that its battery laboratory is now fully setup and operational. The Company sees this as a significant milestone, as it now has the capability to produce and test batteries containing graphene, entirely in-house. 

With this new battery laboratory, Danish Graphene can manage the whole process internally – from production of individual components to the final assembly of coin cell batteries. This allows the Company to maintain strict quality control and explore new technologies and materials.