Graphene sensors: introduction and market status - Page 9

An international team of researchers, including ones from Aalto University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, Sichuan University,  Oregon State University, Yonsei University and the University of Cambridge, have designed a miniaturized spectrometer made of a ‘sandwich’ of different ingredients, including graphene, molybdenum disulfide, and tungsten diselenide. 

The spectrometer reportedly breaks all current resolution records, and does so in a much smaller package, thanks to computational programs and artificial intelligence. The new miniaturized devices could be used in a broad range of sectors, from checking the quality of food to analyzing starlight or detecting faint clues of life in outer space.

Researchers from Tsinghua University recently developed a self-powered sensor that can monitor and detect multiple environmental stimuli simultaneously and demonstrated how it can “translate” sign language into audio.

The sensor was made from graphene oxide and powered internally by a moist electric generator called MEG, which contains a membrane that spontaneously absorbs water from the air. When water adheres to the surface, this results in a higher concentration of hydrogen ions at the top of the membrane and a potential difference between its two electrodes.

Researchers from University of Texas at Austin have developed an antibody (Ab)-modified graphene field effect transistor (GFET)-based biosensor for precise and rapid influenza A virus (IAV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) protein detection and differentiation.

The sensor chip that was developed comprised of four GFETs in a quadruple arrangement, separated by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) enclosures. Every quarter was biochemically functionalized with SARS-CoV-2 and IAV antigen-targeted Abs, one chemically passivated control, and one bare control. The third (chemically passivated) GFET was deployed to ensure that the results observed were due to Ab-antigen interaction rather than electronic fluctuations or drifts.

NTT Corporation and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have jointly reported the realization of what they define as "the world's fastest zero-bias operation (220 GHz) of a graphene photodetector (PD)". The research conducted by NTT and NIMS has also, according to the statement, clarified the optical-to-electrical (O-E) conversion process in graphene for the first time.

Graphene is a promising photodetection material for enabling high-speed O-E conversion at wavelength ranges where existing semiconductor devices cannot operate, thanks to its high sensitivity and high-speed electrical response to a wide range of electromagnetic waves, from terahertz (THz) to ultraviolet (UV). However, until now, the demonstrated zero-bias operating speed has been limited to 70 GHz due to conventional device structure and measurement equipment. For this reason, the challenge for graphene PDs is to demonstrate 200-GHz operation speeds and clarify graphene's inherent properties, such the process of optical-to-electrical conversion.

Haydale and Atomi have announced they will be working together on a project aimed at developing high-performance, intelligent concrete. Using graphene and adding sensor technology, the next generation of strengthened concrete reportedly has the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 30% while offering performance indicators during its lifetime thanks to intelligent sensors capable of capturing real-time data.

Graphene-enhanced concrete is a relatively new development but has been gaining traction and is already being tested around the world, including in several construction projects in the UK. To learn more about graphene-enhanced construction materials, don't miss Graphene-Info's new report. 

Researchers from the UK's Imperial College London have developed graphene-based flexible clothing sensors that can detect body movement, with potential applications in injury rehabilitation, human-computer interaction systems, and athletic training. 

The researchers produced a new type of graphene-based TPU/textile composite sensor using small-scale manufacturing techniques such as laser cutting, film coating, and thermal transfer.    

Researchers from Penn State and China's Hebei University of Technology, as well as additional collaborators from China, have developed a new water-resistant gas sensor for accurate, continuous monitoring of nitrogen dioxide and other gases in humid environments.

The new water-resistant gas sensor can be worn under the nose to detect nitrogen dioxide in the breath, the concentration of which may indicate potential pulmonary diseases.

Researchers from Integrated Graphene and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) have reported a project to develop graphene-enhanced pressure sensors that provide enhanced capabilities to robots, helping improve their motor skills and dexterity. The project was supported by the Scottish Research Partnership in Engineering (SRPe) and the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland (NMIS) Industry Doctorate Program in Advanced Manufacturing.

Professor Des Gibson, Director of the Institute of Thin Films, Sensors and Imaging at UWS and project principal investigator, said: Over recent years the advancements in the robotics industry have been remarkable, however, due to a lack of sensory capabilities, robotic systems often fail to execute certain tasks easily. For robots to reach their full potential, accurate pressure sensors, capable of providing greater tactile ability, are required. Our collaboration with Integrated Graphene Ltd, has led to the development of advanced pressure sensor technology, which could help transform robotic systems.

Paragraf has announced its plan to develop a new generation of graphene-based, in-vitro diagnostic products that will give results within a few minutes.

The Company is starting a two-year program to develop a proof-of-concept combined PCT (procalcitonin) and CRP (C-reactive protein) test, on a single panel. This collaboration utilizes a GBP £550,000 (around USD$658,000) Biomedical Catalyst grant award from Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have demonstrated an advance in using graphene for electrokinetic biosample processing and analysis, that could allow lab-on-a-chip devices to become smaller and achieve results faster.

The team developed devices that incorporate microelectrodes made of monolayer graphene. They found that the electrolysis stability over time for graphene microelectrodes is >103× improved compared to typical microfabricated inert-metal microelectrodes. Through transverse isoelectric focusing between graphene microelectrodes, within minutes, specific proteins can be separated and concentrated to scales of ∼100 μm.