Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Graphene only as strong as weakest link

Researchers from Rice University and Georgia Tech measured graphene's fracture toughness for the first time, finding it to be somewhat brittle. The study highlights the importance of fabricating high-quality graphene sheets without defects to ensure its structural applications.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 29, 2014

Graphene not all good

Researchers found graphene oxide nanoparticles more stable in groundwater and unstable in surface waters. The material's mobility in water has significant implications for its potential environmental impact. The study highlights the need for further research on the stability and transport of these engineered nanomaterials.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalEnvironmental Engineering Science·DateApr 29, 2014

Graphene only as strong as weakest link

Researchers measured graphene's fracture toughness for the first time, finding it to be significantly lower than its intrinsic strength. The study highlights the importance of fabricating high-quality graphene sheets without defects.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 29, 2014

Nanomaterial outsmarts ions

Scientists at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and Vienna University of Technology created ultra-thin membranes that allow highly charged ions to pass through with little energy loss. This discovery has significant implications for developing novel electronic components made of graphene.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 22, 2014

Thinnest feasible membrane produced

The team of researchers produced a stable porous membrane that is thinner than a nanometre, consisting of two layers of graphene on which tiny pores were etched. The membrane can permeate tiny molecules and may be used for waterproof clothing, water filtration, or gas separation.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateApr 17, 2014

Graphene nanoribbons as electronic switches

Researchers have discovered conditions under which graphene nanoribbons can function as electronic switches. The study reveals that the transport gap, a critical factor for switch functionality, is inversely proportional to the ribbon's width and independent of crystallographic orientation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateApr 8, 2014

Rebar technique strengthens case for graphene

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new hybrid material by combining carbon nanotubes with graphene, resulting in improved electrical and mechanical properties. The 'rebar graphene' technique enables large, flexible, conductive sheets of graphene to be manipulated more easily, making it a potential replacement for indium ti...

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateApr 7, 2014

Researchers probe the next generation of 2-D materials

Scientists have successfully fabricated a photosensor using single layers of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), which converts light into electricity at an extremely efficient rate. The material's large energy gap enables it to achieve high on/off ratios, making it suitable for future electronic devices.

SourceIOP Publishing·Journal2D Materials·DateApr 3, 2014

Researchers improve performance of III-V nanowire solar cells on graphene

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a novel solar cell architecture based on dense arrays of coaxial p-n junction InGaAs nanowires on InAs stems grown directly on graphene. The resulting ternary InGaAs NW arrays demonstrate a conversion efficiency of 2.51% under air mass 1.5 global solar illumination, representing ...

Scientists discover potential way to make graphene superconducting

Researchers at SLAC and Stanford University discovered a potential way to make graphene superconducting, which could transform the engineering of materials for nanoscale electronic devices. They found that electrons scatter between graphene and calcium layers, interacting with natural vibrations to conduct electricity without resistance.

SourceDOE/SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 20, 2014

Atomically thin solar cells

Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have created the world's thinnest solar cells using tungsten diselenide, a material that can absorb light and convert it into electrical power. The ultrathin layers exhibit high transparency and efficiency, making them suitable for flexible displays and glass facades.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 9, 2014

Technique to create holes in graphene could improve water filters, desalination

Researchers at MIT developed a new method to create controlled-size holes in graphene sheets, enabling the production of highly selective filters for improved desalination. The graphene filters can sustain higher water flow rates than conventional membranes, making them suitable for efficient desalination and nanofiltration applications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 25, 2014

Graphene's love affair with water

Researchers at the University of Manchester have discovered that graphene can be used to create ultrafast filters for liquid water, with an astonishingly accurate mesh that allows precise separation of atomic species. The filters also exhibit 'ion sponging' properties, sucking up small ions and concentrating them internally.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalScience·DateFeb 13, 2014

How to make the wonder material graphene superconducting

Scientists at the University of Vienna have unveiled the superconducting pairing mechanism in calcium-doped graphene using the Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) method. The findings reveal that calcium is the most promising candidate to induce superconductivity in graphene, with a critical temperature of about 1.5K.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 11, 2014

It's the water

Researchers have developed a graphene water balloon to visualize hydrated protein molecules without freezing or slicing them. This technique allows for the capture of high-resolution images of ferritin, a protein critical for human health, which may lead to new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateFeb 4, 2014

Quasi-particle swap between graphene layers

Belgian scientists applied a particle physics analogy to describe exciton behaviour in two graphene layers, mimicking parallel worlds. The approach reveals swapping effects between layers under specific electromagnetic conditions, similar to brane theory predictions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateFeb 3, 2014

Diamond film possible without the pressure

Scientists at Rice University and Russia have calculated a road map for creating ultra-thin diamond films without high pressure. The 'phase diagram' outlines conditions necessary to turn stacked graphene sheets into flawless diamond lattices, with potential applications in nanocapacitors, electronics, and nano-optics.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 3, 2014

Rice lab clocks 'hot' electrons

Researchers at Rice University measured the speed and efficiency of excited 'hot' electrons drawn from gold nanoparticles into a sheet of graphene. They found that graphene accelerated damping of plasmons, shortening its lifetime, and calculated the electrons' transfer time.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateJan 30, 2014

Graphene nanoribbons an ice-melting coat for radar

Rice University scientists have developed a spray-on coating made from graphene nanoribbons that can melt ice on sensitive radar domes without interfering with radio frequencies. The material is also transparent and durable, making it a promising competitor to existing deicing technologies.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateDec 16, 2013

NUS researchers develop novel bio-inspired method to grow high-quality graphene for high-end electronic devices

The NUS team has successfully developed a one-step method to grow and transfer high-quality graphene on silicon substrates, opening up opportunities for its use in photonics and electronics. The 'face-to-face transfer' method enables the technological application of graphene in optoelectronic modulators, transistors, and biosensors.

New techniques produce cleanest graphene yet

Researchers create cleanest graphene by making electrical contact only along its 1D edge and using a contamination-free assembly technique. This results in improved performance, including high electron mobility and low sheet resistivity, making it suitable for electronic devices.

SourceColumbia University·JournalScience·DateOct 31, 2013

A noble yet simple way to synthesize new metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction

A Korean research team from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) developed a high-performance metal-free electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction using covalently functionalized graphene nanosheets. The new catalyst shows superior stability compared to commercial Pt/C catalysts.

Defining the graphene family tree

A recommended nomenclature for 2D carbon materials has been published by the Editorial Board of Journal Carbon, aiming to standardize definitions and promote precise ideas. The new guidelines suggest using 'graphene materials' as an overarching term, including morphological descriptors for shape and size.

SourceElsevier·JournalCarbon·DateOct 16, 2013

Nanoscaled tip writes artificial cell membranes

Researchers developed a new method to create biomimetic membranes, allowing for the study of cell membrane functions and development of novel applications in medicine and biotechnology. The method uses lipid dip-pen nanolithography to write tailored patches of phospholipid membrane onto graphene substrates.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 14, 2013