Last month we posted about Shanghai's Powerbooster Technology and their graphene-based flexible touch-panels for mobile devices. The company is using Bluestone Global Tech's graphene to produce those panels. BGT now posted a nice video showing these touch panels in action:
Check out this nice interview with Paul Gill, President & CEO of Lomiko Metals in which he explains how he first heard and got in touch with Graphene Labs via twitter and the logic behind their strategic alliance announced in February:
Paul also mentions super-capacitor related research, and from what I understand that will be the focus of Lumiko Metal's new R&D team.
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley created a light-responsive hydrogel made from graphene and elastin-like proteins. When light (a laser) is shining on the gel, it curls inward rapidly. This property is called phototropism - plants use it to orient towards a light source. This material may be useful in robots, drug delivery and synthetic tissue engineering.
The idea behind the new material is that the graphene sheet generates heat when exposed to infrared light,. This causes the proteins to release the water the cling to when not heated.
Korean researchers developed a transparent (84.5% transmittance) actuator that can be used to make movable elements for touch-screens and vari-focal lenses. The actuator is made from a dielectric elastomer layer sandwiched between two transparent and stretchable graphene electrodes (and a frame that links the materials to the substrate).
The researchers demonstrated how this actuator can be used in a tactile display. They also showed that the device can work even when stretched to 25% of its length.
Robert Murray-Smith posted a new video (with unsynchronized audio) showing how to make graphene-oxide at home. The basic idea is to start with a mix of sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid, add powdered graphite and stir it. Then you add permanganate and stir it for three days. Robert hasn't managed to actually isolate the graphene oxide, but he's working on that:
If anyone tries that himself, let us know the results...
Researchers from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) documented silicon atoms "dancing" on a graphene sheet using scanning transmission electron microscope. The researchers trapped the silicon atoms (clusters of six atoms) on a graphene sheet using pores in the sheet.
The researchers say that this is the first time silicon atoms were directly seen that way. Using a simple electron beam is not useful because energy is inserted into the cluster. The ability to analyze small clusters is important as this can help understand how different atomic configurations control a material's properties. It could also be used to practical applications in areas such as electronic and optoelectronic devices, as well as catalysis.
Manchester's City Council, MIDAS, the University of Manchester and the ERDF (who just funded £23 million towards the National graphene Institute in Manchester ) funded and published a new short film that presents graphene, its discovery in Manchester and its possible applications:
Bluestone Global Tech released two short videos introducing Graphene. The first focuses on the different graphene properties (strength, flexibility, conductivity, etc):
The second video is all about the different graphene applications, such as displays, LEDs, touch screens, batteries, solar cells and conductive wires
Back in October 2012 we reported that Vorbeck Materials completed their first capacity expansion step in their Jessup, MD facility (annual capacity is now over 40 tons) and they are still on track to build a new 42,000 square foot production facility in Pocomoke City, MD. Now the National Science Foundation (NSF) posted a hightlight on Vorbeck (who's supported by the NSF).
Vorbeck's Vor-ink graphene-based conductive ink for electronics is one of the first (if not the first) graphene product on the market. The Siren anti-theft packaging device, which uses their graphene-based Vor-Ink circuitry started shipping back in December 2011. Now the company posted a nice video - showing how Vor-Ink maintains its properties even after extreme crunching and bending (and washing)...
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.
