Graphene Coating: introduction and market status - Page 25

Researchers from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a new graphene based coating that can be used to make rough surfaces more water resistant. Those new graphene "drapes" are less than a nanometer thick and are optically transparent and chemically inert. In fact the drape is simply a single graphene layer.

The researchers say this new coating can be used to make better lab-on-chip devices, self cleaning surfaces and other applications that need the motion of liquid drops on surfaces.

Researchers from Manchester University and the National University of Singapore developed a new, efficient and sensitive solar cell made from sheets of graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC). The TMDC (also a 2D material) sheets are very efficient light absorbers while the graphene is used as a transparent conductive layer.

The researchers are optimistic that more and more photoactive "heterestructures" such as the one developed now can be achieved, which will allow them to design multi-functional materials with new functionalities (for example color changing).

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (in Delhi, India) have shown that layers of graphene deposited on silicon have excellent anti reflection properties. The researchers demonstrated (using theoretical calculations and experiments) that CVD-deposited graphene is much better as a UV anti-reflectance layer compared to the commonly used Si3N4 layer used in current solar-cells.

Earlier this month we reported on a new research (from Peking University) showing that Titanium Dioxide can be used as a anti-reflective layer in graphene-silicon solar cells to make them more efficient.

HEAD unveiled their new YouTek Graphene Speed racket, which apparently uses graphene coating on the shaft to make it stronger and lighter. HEAD says that by the graphene helps distribute the weight better and creates a stronger and better controlled racket. Novak Djokovic, the world's top ranked tennis player will start using the graphene racket soon:

Sadly we don't have any technical details about the graphene used here and who's the supplier. HEAD didn't reveal when they'll release the new racket, and at what price.

Researchers discovered that Graphene could provide the world's thinnest metal coating to protect against corrosion. They tested two types of graphene coating: one that is directly made on copper or nickel, and the second was transferred onto another metal. They both provided protection against corrosion. The graphene provides the same corrosion protection as conventional organic coating that is more than five times thicker.

In the first experiment it was discovered that if you use CVD to grow a single layer of graphene on copper it slowed the corrosion - in fact the coated copper corroded seven times slower than bare copper. In a second experiment, Nickel was coated with multiple layers of graphene and it corroded 20 times slower than bare nickel.

Researchers from Rice University and Rensselaer discovered that graphene is essentially invisible to water: when a single layer of graphene is used to cover silicon or most metals - there is almost no change in the water behavior when compared to a silicon without a graphene coating.

The researchers explain that "A drop of water sitting on a surface 'sees through' the graphene layers and conforms to the wetting forces dictated by the surface beneath. It’s quite an interesting phenomenon unseen in any other coatings and once again proves that graphene is really unique in many different ways".

Researchers from Stanford discovered that dipping super capacitor electrodes in a carbon nanotube solution can increase the charging capacity by up to 45%. The electrodes were made by a composite graphene and manganese oxide, and it turns out that the thin coating of more conductive material greatly boosted the capacitance of the electrodes.

Graphene Laboratories announced it moved to a new expanded R&D facility at the Stony Brook University Incubator in Calverton, NY. Dr. Elena Polyakova, Graphene Labs' CEO, told us that "this move greatly expanded our R&D and production capacity. Currently, there is strong demand for graphene wafers and coating on custom substrates. We are planning to add these products to our current offerings ASAP. Our large new facility and expanded wet chemistry laboratory is to be used to scale-up graphene wafer production. "

Graphene Devices has raised over $600,000 several state and federal project awards. The company is exploring novel uses for Graphene and ways to optimize the production. The company is using a process developed at the University of Buffalo.

Here's the list of projects that the company received:

- $466,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to refine the firm's production process and study graphene's potential as a replacement for the costly conductive coatings on solar cells and display technologies. NYSERDA announced the two-year award in May.

Nokomis has been awarded a Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I grant for Graphene as a Coating Material for High-Power RF Windows.

Nokomis will develop an innovative RF window coating structure based on Graphene. The new coating will enhance the quality of data collection and lower bottom line project costs. Beyond that, the applications for this technology includes a wide range of defense, space, energy, communications, medical, research, and security applications that will benefit from improved window performance and reliability.