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Carbon's new champion

Carbyne nanorods or nanoropes have a host of remarkable and useful properties, including surpassing the tensile strength of any other known material and having twice the tensile stiffness of graphene. Stretching carbyne alters its electronic band gap significantly, making it suitable for applications such as sensors and energy storage.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateOct 9, 2013

Laying down a discerning membrane

Researchers at the University of South Carolina have developed a graphene oxide membrane less than 2 nanometers thick with high permeation selectivity between hydrogen and carbon dioxide gas molecules. The team's method allows for uniform coverage without inter-flake leaks, enabling thinner membranes that can efficiently separate gases.

SourceUniversity of South Carolina·JournalScience·DateOct 4, 2013

Graphene with aroma

Researchers have developed a new production method for graphene that uses aromatic molecules, enabling the creation of flexible graphene structures with specific functionality. The method allows for the manufacture of quantum dots, nanoribbons, and other nano-geometries with unique properties.

SourcePhysikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateOct 2, 2013

Process devised for ultrathin carbon membranes

Physicists from Bielefeld University have developed a new process to produce ultrathin carbon membranes, which can filter out fine materials and separate gases. The method allows for the creation of customized nanomembranes with specific properties, such as thickness, transparency, and elasticity.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalACS Nano·DateAug 22, 2013

Water clears path for nanoribbon development

Rice University researchers have discovered a novel technique to create sub-10-nanometer graphene nanoribbons by utilizing the meniscus effect of water. This breakthrough enables the formation of long wires only a few nanometers wide, which is crucial for the development of microelectronics devices.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateJul 30, 2013

Graphene 'onion rings' have delicious potential

Researchers at Rice University have successfully synthesized graphene nanoribbons on metal from the bottom up, a process that could lead to breakthroughs in electronics and energy storage. The 'onion rings' of graphene were grown using a new method that relies on hydrogen pressure and controlled growth conditions.

SourceRice University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJul 18, 2013

A new form of carbon: Grossly warped 'nanographene'

Researchers at Boston College and Nagoya University have synthesized the first example of a new form of carbon, grossly warped graphene, which alters its physical, optical and electronic properties. The new material consists of multiple identical pieces of warped graphene with exactly 80 carbon atoms joined together in a network of 26 ...

SourceBoston College·JournalNature Chemistry·DateJul 15, 2013

Jagged graphene edges can slice into cell membranes

Researchers at Brown University have discovered that graphene's sharp corners and jagged protrusions can pierce cell membranes, potentially disrupting normal function. The findings may help minimize the potential toxicity of graphene, a material with numerous commercial applications.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 10, 2013

Graphene on its way to conquer Silicon Valley

Scientists from the University of Vienna have successfully integrated graphene into metal silicide technology, preserving its unique properties. The new structure shows promising results for applications in semiconductor devices, spintronics, photovoltaics, and thermoelectrics.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 9, 2013

Not-weak knots bolster carbon fiber

Researchers at Rice University developed a new type of carbon fiber with unique properties, achieving '100% knot efficiency' where the fiber is equally likely to break anywhere along its length. The fibers were created by spinning large graphene oxide flakes into fibers, resulting in enhanced strength and flexibility.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJul 8, 2013

Danish chemists in molecular chip breakthrough

A Danish team of chemists has successfully created the world's smallest transistor using a single layer of graphene, paving the way for more sustainable and efficient electronic devices. The breakthrough uses precise placement of molecules to test their functionality, significantly improving testing efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 20, 2013

Spot-welding graphene nanoribbons atom by atom

Researchers at Aalto University and Utrecht University have successfully created single atom contacts between gold and graphene nanoribbons. This breakthrough demonstrates how to make electrical contacts with single chemical bonds to graphene nanoribbons, enabling the use of graphene nanostructures in future electronic devices.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 13, 2013

2-D electronics take a step forward

Researchers at Rice University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have advanced on the goal of two-dimensional electronics by controlling the growth of uniform atomic layers of molybdenum disulfide. The material is a semiconductor, one of three needed to make functioning 2-D electronic components.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 10, 2013

Diamonds, nanotubes find common ground in graphene

Scientists at Rice University and Honda Research Institute have created a hybrid material that combines diamonds, nanotubes, and graphene for superior thermal management. The researchers successfully grew vertically aligned carbon nanotubes on diamond using graphene as a middleman, demonstrating its potential as a heat sink.

SourceRice University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 28, 2013

Innovation could bring flexible solar cells, transistors, displays

Researchers at Purdue University have created a new type of transparent electrode that combines graphene and silver nanowires to overcome the drawbacks of traditional materials like indium tin oxide. The hybrid material has a low sheet resistance and remains flexible even when bent, making it suitable for applications such as solar cel...

SourcePurdue University·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateMay 22, 2013

Add boron for better batteries

Researchers at Rice University found that adding boron to graphene improves its ability to store lithium ions, resulting in a capacity two times larger than graphite. The discovery also enables the material to hold a proper voltage, making it suitable for commercial use.

SourceRice University·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMay 16, 2013

Catching graphene butterflies

The discovery reveals a fundamental interest in understanding the electronic properties of graphene and its potential applications. The researchers have created multiple clones of Dirac fermions, mimicking massless relativistic particles, and produced an intricate pattern known as the Hofstadter butterfly.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature·DateMay 15, 2013

Graphene's high-speed seesaw

Researchers at the University of Manchester have developed a graphene-based transistor with bistable characteristics, which can rapidly switch between two electronic states. This technology has potential applications in medical imaging and security screening, as well as enabling the creation of new architectures for electronic components.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 30, 2013

Even graphene has weak spots

Researchers found that the seven-atom ring defects at junctions in polycrystalline graphene result in reduced strength due to amplification of tension. This finding is significant for materials scientists using graphene, particularly in composite materials and stretchable electronics.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 28, 2013

Hybrid ribbons a gift for powerful batteries

Researchers at Rice University have developed a new material that accelerates the development of high-power lithium-ion batteries suitable for electric cars. The hybrid ribbons of vanadium oxide and graphene work well for lithium-ion storage, providing both high energy density and significant power density.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMar 25, 2013

Routes towards defect-free graphene

A new technique has been developed to grow graphene without defects, enabling the creation of larger sheets with aligned flakes and improved electron flow. This breakthrough has significant implications for industrial-scale graphene manufacturing and the development of graphene-based technologies in electronics, energy, and healthcare.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalACS Nano·DateFeb 1, 2013

Flat boron by the numbers

Researchers at Rice University have made progress toward creating 2-D boron through theoretical work that suggests the most practical ways to make the material. The team's results indicate that 2-D boron may conduct electricity better than graphene, a key finding in the field of two-dimensional materials.

SourceRice University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 31, 2013