GRAPHENE REPORT

Graphene a 1-atom thick sheet of carbon in hexagonic crystal lattice. 200x stronger than steel. Tougher than diamond. World's thinnest material. Flexible, transparent. Conducts el and heat very well. Stocks: AIXG, CVV, FCSMF, NGPHF, GTI, CHGI, PKX.


GA Tech research creating eltronic bandgap in graphene nanoribbons. Coating bi-layer graphene on silicon carbide nanometer-scale steps. Still puzzle why bent graphene creates bandgap.

China's Harbin Inst of Tech using standard optical microscope in developing quick, cheap, efficient way of measuring graphene's thickness. Reflected light from surface, measure red, green and blue components.

AIST research using helium ion beam to control conductivity of graphene. Intro's crystal defects onto graphene sheet to modulate electron movement in graphene by applying voltage to gate electrode.

Northwest U developing simple method to make nanofluidic devices using graphene oxide. Channels transport ions (high el current). Applicable for batts, water purification. Stacked-up graphene sheets create flexible paper-like material. Gaps form between sheets. "Paper" encased in polymer, holes drilled at ends for electrolyte solution.

Hebrew U, Jerusalem using their coating tech developed a few years ago (uses nanometric metal oxide dots) to synthesize graphene-tin oxide composites based li-ion batt anodes. Collab with Singapore's National Research Foundation. Graphene-tin oxide has high charging capacity.

U of Wisc Milwaukee developing method to make ordered graphene oxide with good eltronic properties. Hoping for "ideal bandgap". Carbon-based devices to be used as transistors, sensors, optoeltronic devices. Layers of oxygen-poor graphene sandwiched between layers of graphene oxide, then annealed.

AZ Electronic Materials licensing Rice U's graphene nanoribbons for aps in eltronic and advanced optical devices. AZ gaining exclusive worldwide rights to several patent families.

Grafoid signed 3-yr R&D agreement with Hydro-Quebec's Research Inst for development of next gen rechargable batts using graphene with li-iron-phosphate materials. Aim to create patentable inventions.

Researchers from Germany, Russia and US increased graphene's conduction electrons' spin-orbit coupling by 10Kx. Could enable spintronics switch. Placed graphene on nickel substrate, atoms separated by same distance as graphene's hexmeshes. Then deposited gold atoms on the device end up between graphene and nickel sheets. Electrons in graphene layer had the 10Kx increased spin-orbit coupling. Switch would include 2 perpendicular spin filters controlled by el field.

Rice U developing hybrid material from carbon nanotubes with graphene. Tubes rise like towers from the graphene. May prove to be great supercapacitor electrode material. Grew graphene on copper, then tubes grown seamlessly on the graphene.

Monash U (Australia) grows 3D graphene "towers". Makes graphene more elastic. Supports 50Kx its own weight. Springs back into shape after being compressed by up to 80% and has very low density. Still retains graphene's conductivity. Ice crystal as templates to grow towers from graphene oxide flakes.

National Cheng Kung U (Taiwan) studying graphene flakes, creating conductive materials. Chemically treat graphite. Can make paper conductive. Current work on strain sensors for pipelines, bridges, engines, airplanes.

MIT showed graphene not as transparent to wetting as thought before. For materials with intermediate wettability, graphene preserves properties of underlying material. For more extreme cases - surfaces that intensely repel water - added graphene layer significantly changes way coated materials behave. Possible way of making eltronic circuits that would be protected from short-circuiting and corrosion in water.

China Carbon Graphite Group working with top Chinese institute in the field. Products so far include graphite electrodes, fine grain graphite blocks and high purity graphite.