Graphene applications: what is graphene used for? - Page 9

Researchers have been working on creating elastic and tough graphene films, but it has proven quite challenging so far. Now, researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University have introduced a method to overcome this hurdle: they linked graphene nanolayers via "extendable" bridging structures.

Image credit: Angewandte Chemie

The special properties of graphene nanolayers often drop off when the layers are assembled into foils, because they are only held together by relatively weak interactions—primarily hydrogen bonds. Approaches that attempt to improve the mechanical properties of graphene foils by introducing stronger interactions have only been partially successful, leaving room for improvement in the stretchability and toughness of the materials. The research team, led by Xuzhou Yan at Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China, chose a new approach: they cross-linked graphene nanolayers with mechanically interlocked molecules whose building blocks are not chemically linked, but rather inseparably spatially entangled. The researchers used rotaxanes as their links.

Gerdau Graphene has announced the availability of NanoCORR Shield, the newest product from its G2D NanoCORR line of anti-corrosion paints and coatings additives. Developed with Gerdau Graphene's exclusive G2D technology, NanoCORR Shield is a graphene-enhanced chemical additive designed to increase the corrosion resistance of solvent-based paints and coatings. NanoCORR Shield has demonstrated a 30-70% increase in corrosion resistance when subjected to salt spray testing.

The addition of a small amount of specially-developed graphene into paints and coatings allows for an increase in the barrier effect against corrosive elements such as water, oxygen, and chlorides. In addition, NanoCORR reduces paint consumption by reducing the nominal thickness of the coating while maintaining the paint or coatings' other characteristics and performance properties.

Researchers from the University of Manchester, The Pennsylvania State University, Koç University and Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) have tackled the challenge of control of thermal radiation, demonstrating a new topology-based approach.

The team explained that conventional approaches to tailoring thermal emission using metamaterials are hampered both by the limited spatial resolution of the required subwavelength material structures and by the materials’ strong absorption in the infrared. In their recent work, the scientists developed an approach based on the concept of topology: by changing a single parameter of a multilayer coating, they were able to control the reflection topology of a surface, with the critical point of zero reflection being topologically protected. 

Graphmatech, a materials technology company, and MTC Powder Solutions (MTC PS), a leading company in hot isostatic pressing (HIP), have announced the signing of a cooperation agreement to develop advanced metal-graphene composites for various industrial applications. This partnership aims to offer cutting-edge HIPed metal-graphene solutions to global industries.

Graphmatech's graphene-engineered metal powder combines the exceptional properties of graphene with various metals. This technology brings metals to new levels of performance, making them ideal for applications in electrification, energy-related and high-precision sectors. MTC PS plans to develop and offer HIPed metal-graphene for a wide range of electrification, energy, and Big Science, applications further propelling the transition towards a sustainable future.

Directa Plus has announced that its collaboration with Iterchimica to develop and produce Gipave, a Green Asphalt embedded with G+ graphene, has achieved another important milestone - it has been chosen for an extensive resurfacing operation in Rome, ahead of the 2025 Jubilee.

Anas, the Italian public road company, has awarded the contract for a resurfacing operation to cover c.15 kilometers of historical routes, using Gipave technology. Gipave is enriched with Directa Plus' graphene and hard recycled plastics, which increases a roads lifespan by up to 61% compared to current market technologies.

Sparc Technologies has announced the commencement of ecosparc (its flagship graphene-based additive product) field trials with the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT).

The steel piles for the Streaky Bay Jetty remediation project have been delivered to DIT for blasting and coating. Sparc has provided both the ecosparc-enhanced and control coating to DIT and agreed the arrangement of the steel piles on the project. 

Researchers from Italy's Sapienza University of Rome, Portugal's International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), University of Minho and Universidade de Lisboa have developed a sustainable approach to produce an electrically conductive, graphene-based paste suitable for fabricating flexible devices such as microsupercapacitors (mSCs).

The new method enables the scalable, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly production of high-quality graphene materials, paving the way for advanced applications in energy storage and flexible electronics.

Haydale recently displayed, for the first time in public, its revolutionary new solution to automotive seat heating labelled the ‘Hot Seat’ at the NEC in Birmingham. Using the Company's patented process and unique materials, Haydale has developed an alternative to existing automotive seat heating technology.

This interesting graphene application is based on the production of a seat heater that is faster to heat, uses less energy and offers a green and eco-friendly alternative to the current solutions. Using the same technology in place for their Underfloor Heating range of products under development, Haydale has now adapted this to provide a novel application for heated seating.

Scientists at the University of Bath, working in collaboration with Integrated Graphene, have created a new type of chemosensor (demonstrated for lactic acid sensing) which functions with electricity but without the need for reference electrodes or battery power. The new design potentially offers lower cost, better shelf-life, and ease of miniaturization compared to enzyme-based sensors. This could open up the possibility for an easy-to-use sensor to be used in remote locations, such as an athletics track, without the need for electricity-powered sensing equipment.

The sensor was able to detect lactic acid, a by-product generated by the body when it metabolizes carbohydrates or glucose for fuel, for example, during exercise. High levels of lactic acid are linked with higher risks of falling unconscious or into a coma and major organ failure.

Researchers from Japan's Tokyo Institute of Technology and Institute for Molecular Science recently investigated the impact of high-density Ca introduction to C₆CaC₆ - a graphene-calcium compound which exhibits high critical temperature. In this compound, a layer of calcium is introduced between two graphene layers in a process called intercalation. 

While this material already has high critical temperatures, some studies have shown that critical temperatures and therefore superconductivity can be further enhanced through the introduction of high-density Ca.