Articles tagged with "graphene"
Duke engineers break size barrier to print recyclable electronics
Duke University engineers have developed a novel printing technique called high precision capillary printing that enables the creation of fully functional, recyclable carbon-based electronics at sub-micrometer scales. This breakthrough overcomes a previous size limitation of 10 micrometers, allowing the printing of thin-film transistors (TFTs) with features separated by tiny gaps that enhance electrical performance. The team used inks derived from nanocellulose, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, which can be printed on various substrates including glass, silicon, and flexible materials like paper. These advances could enable environmentally friendly manufacturing of electronic displays, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional methods. While the printed transistors are not intended to replace high-performance silicon chips, they show promise for applications in display technologies, particularly OLEDs, which demand higher current and multiple transistors per pixel. The technology could significantly reduce the environmental footprint of the $150 billion display industry and help revitalize U.S. manufacturing in a market currently dominated
materialsrecyclable-electronicsprinted-electronicscarbon-based-transistorsnanocellulosegraphenecarbon-nanotubesNew graphene material makes supercapacitors rival lead-acid batteries
Engineers at Monash University have developed a novel graphene-based material, called multiscale reduced graphene oxide (M-rGO), that enables supercapacitors to achieve energy storage comparable to lead-acid batteries while delivering power at much faster rates. This breakthrough addresses a longstanding limitation in supercapacitors, which traditionally store charge electrostatically but have had lower energy density due to inefficient use of carbon materials’ surface area. By applying a rapid thermal annealing process to natural graphite, the researchers created highly curved graphene structures with optimized ion pathways, resulting in devices that combine high energy density (up to 99.5 Wh/L) with exceptional power density (up to 69.2 kW/L) and excellent cycle stability. The new M-rGO material is compatible with scalable production methods and leverages abundant Australian graphite resources, making it promising for commercialisation. Monash spinout Ionic Industries is already producing commercial quantities of this graphene material and collaborating with energy storage partners to bring the technology to market
energygraphenesupercapacitorsenergy-storagematerials-sciencebattery-technologycarbon-materialsNew acetone breath test could offer quicker diabetes screening
Researchers at Penn State have developed a novel graphene-based breath sensor that can rapidly and inexpensively detect diabetes and prediabetes by measuring acetone levels in exhaled breath. The device uses a combination of laser-induced porous graphene and zinc oxide to selectively identify acetone, a biomarker linked to diabetes risk when present above 1.8 parts per million. Unlike traditional diabetes tests that require blood draws or lab visits, this sensor provides results within minutes by simply exhaling into a bag and dipping the sensor, eliminating the need for induced sweat or complex lab analysis. The sensor’s design overcomes challenges such as moisture interference by incorporating a membrane that blocks water molecules while allowing acetone to pass through, enhancing detection accuracy. Currently, the test requires breath collection in a bag to avoid environmental airflow disruption, but future iterations aim to enable direct detection under the nose or inside a mask. Beyond diabetes screening, the researchers envision broader health applications by tracking acetone fluctuations related to diet and exercise. The study,
materialsgraphenesensor-technologydiabetes-detectionzinc-oxidebreath-analysishealth-monitoringLab-grown brain cells steer robot dog, advancing Alzheimer's study
US scientists at the University of California San Diego have developed a novel technique called Graphene-Mediated Optical Stimulation (GraMOS) that uses graphene’s optoelectronic properties to stimulate and accelerate the maturation of lab-grown human brain organoids. Unlike traditional methods that rely on genetic modification or direct electrical currents, GraMOS is biocompatible and noninvasive, converting light into gentle electrical signals that encourage neurons to connect and mature faster. This advancement addresses the major limitation of slow brain organoid development, enhancing their utility for studying neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s and enabling faster drug testing. In a groundbreaking demonstration, the researchers connected graphene-interfaced brain organoids to a robotic dog, allowing the organoids to process sensory input and generate neural responses that enabled the robot to avoid obstacles within 50 milliseconds. This neuro-biohybrid system exemplifies the potential for living brain cells to interface with machines, opening possibilities for applications in prosthetics, adaptive robotics, and biological computing. The
robotgraphenebrain-organoidsbrain-machine-interfaceoptoelectronicsneurological-disease-researchAlzheimer's-studyNew quantum phonon interference sets stage for next-gen sensors
Researchers at Rice University have demonstrated a groundbreaking advancement in phonon interference, achieving interference effects two orders of magnitude stronger than previously observed. By intercalating a few layers of silver atoms between graphene and a silicon carbide substrate—a process called confinement heteroepitaxy—they created a unique two-dimensional metal interface that enhances vibrational mode interactions in silicon carbide. This strong phonon interference, characterized by Fano resonance patterns detected via Raman spectroscopy, reveals highly sensitive vibrational signals that can distinguish even single dye molecules on the surface, enabling label-free single-molecule detection with a simple, scalable setup. This discovery marks a significant step in harnessing phonons—quantum units of vibration that carry heat and sound—as effective carriers of quantum information, comparable to electrons and photons. Unlike bulk metals, the atomically thin 2D metal layer produces unique quantum interference pathways purely from phonon interactions, without electronic contributions. The findings open new avenues for phonon-based quantum sensing, molecular detection, energy harvesting, and
quantum-sensingphonon-interference2D-materialsgraphenesilicon-carbidemolecular-detectionenergy-technologyRecord-breaking single-photon detector ends need for cryogenics
Researchers at ICFO have developed a groundbreaking single-photon detector capable of sensing mid-infrared photons at significantly higher temperatures—around 25 Kelvin—compared to conventional detectors that require cryogenic cooling below 1 Kelvin. This advance eliminates the need for bulky, energy-intensive cryogenic systems, making the technology more practical for integration into photonic circuits. The detector is constructed from stacked two-dimensional materials, specifically bilayer graphene sandwiched between hexagonal boron nitride layers, precisely aligned to create a moiré pattern that induces a bistability effect. This bistability allows the device to switch between two stable states when triggered by a single photon, enabling detection without ultra-low temperatures. The novel detection mechanism differs fundamentally from traditional superconducting and semiconductor detectors by operating near an electrical tipping point, where a single photon acts as a trigger to switch the device’s state. This approach enhances sensitivity to long-wavelength photons and has potential applications in astronomy, quantum communication, and medical imaging by improving the
materialsgraphenephoton-detectorquantum-communication2D-materialsmid-infrared-detectioncryogenicsUS Startup Lyten (Still) Aims For A Lithium-Sulfur EV Battery
US startup Lyten is advancing lithium-sulfur battery technology with ambitions to capture significant market share in low-cost battery energy storage systems across the US and Europe. The company has been developing a lithium-sulfur EV battery in collaboration with automaker Stellantis, aiming for commercial deployment potentially by 2030. Lithium-sulfur batteries offer advantages over traditional lithium-ion cells, including lower weight, reduced cost, and the ability to use existing lithium-ion manufacturing lines, although challenges with mechanical and chemical degradation remain. Since May 2024, Lyten has been shipping pouch-type lithium-sulfur battery samples to automakers in the US and EU from its pilot facility in California. A key differentiator for Lyten is its proprietary Lyten 3D Graphene™ technology, which enhances battery performance by increasing energy density—approaching twice that of lithium-ion batteries—while eliminating 85% of mined minerals like nickel, cobalt, and graphite. Lyten has also expanded its automotive applications of
energylithium-sulfur-batteryEV-batteryenergy-storagegrapheneelectric-vehiclesbattery-technologyChinese scientists detect rare quantum friction in folded graphene
Chinese scientists from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, led by Professors Zhang Junyan and Gong Zhenbin, have experimentally observed quantum friction in folded graphene for the first time. By precisely folding graphene layers to create controlled curvature and internal strain, they altered electron behavior at the nanoscale. This strain forced electrons into fixed energy states called pseudo-Landau levels, reducing energy loss as heat and resulting in a nonlinear, sometimes decreasing friction pattern as the number of graphene layers increased. Their findings challenge classical friction models and provide the first direct evidence of quantum friction occurring between two solid surfaces. The research, conducted at ultra-low temperatures using a carefully engineered graphene system, opens new avenues for understanding friction at the atomic scale. The team plans to investigate whether similar quantum friction effects occur in other materials and under more practical conditions. Ultimately, this work could lead to technologies that better manage or minimize energy loss in nanoscale electronics and quantum computing devices by exploiting quantum friction phenomena. The study was published in Nature Communications
materialsgraphenequantum-frictionnanotechnologyenergy-efficiencynanomaterialsquantum-physicsAI-powered graphene tongue detects flavors with 98% precision
Scientists have developed an AI-powered artificial tongue using graphene oxide within a nanofluidic device that mimics human taste with remarkable accuracy. This system integrates both sensing and computing on a single platform, enabling it to detect chemical signals and classify flavors in real time, even in moist conditions similar to the human mouth. Trained on 160 chemicals representing common flavors, the device achieved about 98.5% accuracy in identifying known tastes (sweet, salty, sour, and bitter) and 75-90% accuracy on 40 new flavors, including complex mixtures like coffee and cola. This breakthrough marks a significant advancement over previous artificial taste systems by combining sensing and processing capabilities. The sensor exploits graphene oxide’s sensitivity to chemical changes, detecting subtle conductivity variations when exposed to flavor compounds. Coupled with machine learning, it effectively recognizes flavor patterns much like the human brain processes taste signals. The researchers highlight potential applications such as restoring taste perception for individuals affected by stroke or viral infections, as well as uses
grapheneartificial-tongueAImaterials-sciencesensorsmachine-learningnanotechnologyQuantum miracle: Graphene shows spin currents without any magnets
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have achieved a groundbreaking feat by generating and detecting quantum spin currents in graphene without the use of external magnetic fields. Traditionally, inducing the quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect in graphene required strong magnetic fields, which are impractical for on-chip integration. By placing graphene atop a layered magnetic material called chromium thiophosphate (CrPS₄), the team harnessed magnetic proximity effects to induce spin-orbit coupling and exchange interactions in graphene. This combination opened an energy gap and enabled electrons to flow along graphene’s edges with aligned spins, demonstrating the QSH effect in a magnet-free environment. In addition to observing the QSH effect at cryogenic temperatures, the researchers discovered an anomalous Hall (AH) effect that persisted even at room temperature, where electrons deflect sideways without an external magnetic field. The coexistence of these effects suggests practical pathways for developing ultrathin, spin-based quantum devices. The stable, topologically protected spin currents in graphene could facilitate long-distance
graphenespintronicsquantum-devicesmaterials-scienceenergy-efficient-electronicsquantum-spin-Hall-effectmagnetic-proximity-effectGraphene’s strange twist is a boon for true superconductivity: Study
The article discusses recent research on magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene (MATG), a novel form of graphene composed of three atom-thick layers twisted at specific angles, which exhibits unconventional superconductivity. Unlike traditional superconductors, MATG’s superconducting behavior defies established theories, making it a subject of intense scientific investigation. Researchers constructed Josephson junctions incorporating MATG to probe its superconducting properties beyond simple resistance measurements, confirming true superconductivity through observations such as magnetic field expulsion and Cooper pair formation. A key finding of the study is MATG’s exceptionally high kinetic inductance—about 50 times greater than most known superconductors—indicating that Cooper pairs in MATG respond very slowly to changing currents. This property is highly desirable for quantum technologies, including ultra-sensitive photon detectors and superconducting qubits for quantum computing. Additionally, the researchers identified an inverse relationship between kinetic inductance and critical current, shedding light on the coherence length of the superconducting electron pairs. Although MATG is not
materialsgraphenesuperconductivityquantum-devicestwisted-trilayer-graphenemagic-angle-graphenequantum-materialsRare graphite flakes behave as both superconductor and magnet at 300 K
materialssuperconductivitygraphenemagnetismenergyquantum-computingresearchWorld’s fastest quantum switch built by US team for ultra-fast AI
materialsquantum-computinggrapheneultrafast-computingAI-hardwaretransistorslaser-technology