Graphene 3D Printing

Researchers from China's Nanjing University of Science and Technology and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have developed lightweight and structurally controllable 3D reduced graphene oxide frameworks decorated with magnetic components (MRGO frameworks) via 3D printing technology to tailor EMI shielding properties. 

The team explains that by adjusting the preparation conditions of the MRGO frameworks, such as inter-filament spacing, composition, and pyrolysis temperature, the graphitization degree and transmission paths are influenced, enabling electrical conductivity and magnetic property, and ensuring excellent EMI shielding performance.

Researchers from the University of Virginia, Virginia Transportation Research Council and Turkey's Istanbul Technical University have developed a more sustainable, printable cementitious composite. This new material combines graphene with limestone and calcined clay cement (LC2), and is said to offer enhanced strength and durability while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

"Our goal was to design a printable concrete that performs better and is more eco-friendly," said Osman Ozbulut, a professor at UVA's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. "The addition of graphene to LC2 cement offers a unique opportunity to lower carbon emissions while maintaining the strength and flexibility required for 3D printed construction."

Versarien has announced that it has signed an agreement with Balfour Beatty Group to develop a range of low carbon, graphene-infused, 3D-printable mortars suitable for civil construction.

This will include formulating three types of mortar: one based on local materials, and two enhanced with Versarien's graphene admixture, Cementene. Additionally, efforts will focus on establishing a UK-based supply chain, involving identifying local suppliers, integrating the graphene admixture, implementing quality control protocols, and creating distribution channels and sales frameworks for both domestic and international markets.

Versarien has announce that the Company has entered into a contract with Building For Humanity for Versarien to act as a 'print partner' to support Building For Humanity CIC, a community interest company, with a range of services for its flagship Charter Street project in Accrington, Lancashire.  The contract, initially valued at approximately £200,000 will see Versarien providing 3D construction printing ("3DCP") input at all stages of the project, giving Building For Humanity a full service from design to construction.

It was disclosed that the Company had previously signed a letter of mutual commitment to support the Charter Street project. The contract now signed follows the formal commencement of the project, which will see the development of 46 high-quality affordable homes, in five blocks, along with associated infrastructure, including a community hub, led by Building For Humanity. The initial phase of the project will involve the construction of the first housing block and the community hub.

Researchers from China University of Petroleum (East China), Henan Agricultural University and Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed an additive-free 3D printing process to construct graphene micro-supercapacitors (MSCs) with unprecedented electrochemical properties and seamless integrability. The team states that this achievement overcomes existing manufacturing limitations and brings closer the on-chip MSC arrays essential for the next generation of wearables.

Wearable devices require ever-smaller on-board energy solutions that can deliver bursts of power while remaining unobtrusive. Rigid coin batteries restrict device flexibility and ergonomics. Leading microscale alternatives include micro-supercapacitors (MSCs), which store and discharge energy rapidly owing to highly porous electrode materials interfacing with electrolytes. Supercapacitors’ quick charge ability and resilience to repeated charging cycles make them appealing to supplement batteries. However, difficulties producing intricately designed MSC devices that also offer high performance have confined MSCs to the lab. Conventional manufacturing techniques often lack suitable precision, flexibility, and scalability.

Researchers at Australia's RMIT University and University of Melbourne have investigated the effectiveness of graphene oxide (GO) sheets in enhancing the compressive strength of 3D-printed cementitious mortar. 

They added graphene oxide to the cement used as a binder in 3D-printed concrete. After experimenting with different amounts, it was found that when graphene oxide was added at a dosage of 0.015% the weight of the cement, the resulting concrete exhibited better inter-layer bonding. This boost produced a 10% increase in overall strength.

Nova Graphene has announced a pivot in their product development strategy. Originally focused on designing 3D-printed graphene-enhanced ballistic armor for human military and law enforcement personnel, Nova has now fast-tracked the development of similar armor specifically designed for service animals.

The team at Nova Graphene decided to expedite animal scanning and prototyping while conducting an early body scan test for their current armor project.

Researchers from the University of the Bundeswehr Munich & SENS Research Center and KTH Royal Institute of Technology recently demonstrated the noncontact and resist-free patterning of platinum diselenide (PtSe₂), molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), and graphene layers with nanoscale precision at high processing speed while preserving the integrity of the surrounding material. 

The team used a commercial, off-the-shelf two-photon 3D printer to directly write patterns in the 2D materials with features down to 100 nm at a maximum writing speed of 50 mm/s. 

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Panasonic Factory Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. (Panasonic) and Singapore Centre for 3D Printing (SC3DP) have developed a multi-material printer using multi-wavelength high-power lasers, for quick and easy 3D printing of smart, flexible devices.

The multi-material printer works by utilizing varying wavelengths of laser, creating thermal and chemical reactions capable of transforming common carbon-based materials (polyimide and graphene oxide) into a new type of highly porous graphene. The resulting structure printed with this new graphene is not only light and conductive, but it can also be printed or coated onto flexible substrates like plastics, glass, gold and fabrics, creating flexible devices.

UK-based Evove, developer of a graphene-based water filtration technology designed to tackle water shortage, has announced that it has secured £5.7 million (around USD$6,750,000) in a round of funding led by One Ventures with participation from AM Ventures and existing investors.

Evove says it will use the funds to expand its manufacturing capacity, scale up its 3D-printed membrane process, and capitalize on its substantial pipeline of opportunities.