graphene Archives – The Green Optimistic

New Graphene Supercapacitor Makes Lithium-Ion Batteries Charge Fast and Last Forever

Mila Luleva — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 18:53:31 +0000

A new supercapacitor, developed by an Australian scientist, promises eco-friendly, cheap, fast-charging and ever-lasting lithium ion batteries. When it comes to energy storage, especially our good old friends- the lithium ion batteries, some things just sound too good to be true. For example, if someone says they developed an ever lasting battery, which does not […]

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Graphene Solar Cells Produce Electricity from Sun and Rain

Mila Luleva — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 16:03:13 +0000

Adding graphene to solar cells makes them generate power from rain. Solar power has been on a continuous rise over the past decade. Rooftop solar is arguably the most common renewable energy source for home use, and solar power plants are arguably the biggest renewable energy large scale generators. But, regardless of all this, there […]

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Energy Efficient, Long-Lasting Graphene LED Bulb Hits the Market

Mila Luleva — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 09:07:13 +0000

The very first product made of graphene to hit the market is a highly efficient, energy saving and long lasting LED light bulb. The long wait for a viable product made of the ultra-strong, super-thin carbon nanosheet- graphene, is finally over. Scientists from University of Manchester, UK, the birthplace of the wonder material, designed a […]

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Newly Discovered Property of Graphene to Boost Fuel Cells Efficiency

Mila Luleva — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 09:22:20 +0000

The founder of graphene discovered one more incredible property of the material that can give the ever-so-needed to boost fuel cells and hydrogen-based technologies. The strongest, thinnest, and initially known as impermeable material, in fact allows hydrogen protons to pass through. No wonder graphene is labelled as the “miracle material”. Every property or use of […]

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Tesla Motors Researching Graphene to Boost Energy Storage Capacity

Benji Jerew — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 03:00:49 +0000

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk said his company was working on something big, so we’re wondering if it has anything to do with this news report from China. Tesla Motors, as we’ve discussed before, isn’t simply an electric vehicle company, but an energy storage company. Plans for the Tesla Gigafactory are testament enough to that […]

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Plastic Graphene Substitute Developed in Korea

Benji Jerew — Fri, 04 Jul 2014 16:50:09 +0000

For all the properties of the latest wünder-material, graphene, it still remains an expensive acquisition, making even graphene research and development an expensive proposition. The growing list of graphene properties includes possible application in water treatment, solar power, electric vehicles, even electronics. Unfortunately, even these improvements in efficiency may not be enough to offset how […]

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Flexible Supercapacitor Could be Woven into Cloth

Benji Jerew — Wed, 14 May 2014 15:32:40 +0000

Researchers collaborating between Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, Tsinghua University (TUC), China, and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), US, believe they have developed the highest-capacity carbon-based supercapacitor to date, and it’s thin enough to use as thread. Because capacitors can be cycled thousands of times without degrading, supercapacitors could be the next step in practically […]

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How to Make Graphene from Pencils and Washing Liquid

Mila Luleva — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 19:33:31 +0000

There is not a single week that passes without the magic word, graphene, making its presence in the news. Ever since the discovery of the material, researchers and engineers continuously show new properties and even more uses for it. Yet, scientists are still looking for a cheap and effective way to produce defect-free graphene, as […]

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What Is Graphene, Anyway?

Benji Jerew — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:48:15 +0000

We’ve covered graphene on this site a number of times, but of course, what is it? Where does it come from? What does it do? Can you buy it? Will it give you superpowers? Well, as far as giving you superpowers, I’m not sure we’ve gotten that far in our development as a species to […]

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Saltwater Graphene Generator Discovered

Benji Jerew — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 16:09:10 +0000

Scientists and researchers are still coming up with ways to use graphene, perhaps the greatest wünder-material in recent memory. Graphene, an atom-thick single-layer two-dimensional lattice of pure carbon, has been known for decades, yet only recently has been getting the attention it deserves. So far, research into graphene has yielded, at least, prototype technologies in […]

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Nanotech Stars – NIST Method Produces Graphene More Efficiently

Benji Jerew — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 15:08:53 +0000

Researchers have been finding numerous possible applications for the wonder-material called graphene, but mass-production has, so far, escaped them. So far, graphene production in small quantities has been found to be most efficient on particles of copper, smaller than 1µm (micrometer). Of course, any growth of graphene is going to be on this tiny scale, […]

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Graphene Synthetic Fuel Catalyst Developed by University of Illinois at Chicago

Benji Jerew — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 12:58:52 +0000

Synthetic fuels can turn practically any vehicle carbon-neutral, since the vehicle would emit the same carbon dioxide that was used to make the fuel in the first place. Actually, this is exactly the draw of biofuels, except that, with synthetic fuels, you don’t have to wait for the plants to grow. I guess you could […]

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Could Graphene Rescue Lithium-Sulfur Battery Technology?

Benji Jerew — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 20:51:08 +0000

Theoretically-speaking, lithium-sulfur batteries [LiS] could be vastly superior to current lithium-ion [Li-Ion] battery technology, except for a couple of debilitating problems. Recent research done at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory [BNL] seems to indicate that graphene has come to the rescue, once again. In comparison to Li-Ion batteries, LiS batteries have more capacity, up to four […]

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Graphene Supercapacitors Finally Good Enough for Automotive Uses, Say Korean Researchers

Danny Harper — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 08:49:26 +0000

Current supercapacitors (rechargeable energy storage) are unable to store enough energy for them to be used in small cars and replace batteries. Fortunately, this piece of the puzzle may have finally been solved with a new material called Graphene. Researcher Santahkumar Kannappan, of the Gwagju Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea, has been able […]

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MXenes: The Graphene-Like Material That Could Revolutionize Lithium-Ion Batteries

Benji Jerew — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 20:58:41 +0000

We’ve heard a lot about graphene, a single-layer hexagonal arrangement of carbon atoms, about which it has been said might revolutionize lithium-ion battery, water filtration, and even reduce emissions. Scientists are still discovering all the wonderful things that graphene might be able to do, but we’re still waiting for a lithium-ion battery with 2,000kWh/kg and […]

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Graphene Closer to Becoming Suitable for High-Efficiency Electronics

Mila Luleva — Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:11:46 +0000

Researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are one step closer to turning graphene into the most desired material for producing ultrahigh-efficiency solar cells and electronics. By examining the material at an atomic level, the team was able to establish the reason why the thin sheet of carbon cannot control the electron current. Ever since […]

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Air Force Behind Innovative Lithium-Ion Batteries

Leigh Hutchens — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 22:48:55 +0000

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has developed an innovative next generation lithium-ion battery — a promising new platform for creating more durable, lightweight and efficient lithium-ion (Li-ion) power. Working with AFOSR, Dr. Jim Tour and his research team at Rice University (along with other funding agencies) demonstrated a way to chemically unzip […]

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Graphene the Magic Bullet for Extending the Life of Electronics

Leigh Hutchens — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 04:46:47 +0000

According to Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, the working temperature of a processor can be lowered up to 25% just by using one single layer or graphene. Keeping electronics cool is one of the keys to prolonging lifespan. The working life of an electronics system is halved by a working temperature of just 10 […]

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MIT Researchers Develop Solar Cells 1000 More Powerful than Traditional Photovoltaics

Leigh Hutchens — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 03:22:39 +0000

According to researchers at MIT, developing solar energy technology that focuses on lightweight, thin solar cells has the potential to transform the industry. These thin solar cells can be produced by stacking sheets of single molecule-thick graphene or molybdenum disulfide. Why is this important? Because the researchers have demonstrated that it is possible to create […]

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Iodine Fuel Cell Catalyst More Efficient [and Cheaper!] than Platinum

Benji Jerew — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 18:58:20 +0000

If hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are ever going to make it mainstream, one thing that’s definitely going to be needed is a cheaper fuel cell. The problem, of course, is the balance between price and longevity. Cheaper fuel cells can be made, but then they don’t last very long. Platinum doesn’t corrode in a fuel […]

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Graphene-Boron Compound Could Revolutionize Lithium-Ion Battery Capacity

Benji Jerew — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:14:30 +0000

Researchers have touted graphene as a game-changing material that could boost the power and energy capacity of a lithium-ion battery. Graphene, a film of carbon atoms just one atom thick, is an excellent conductor of electricity. In a battery, the massive surface area of such carbon sheets could be a boon to increasing the power […]

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Graphene and Monolayers For More Efficient Solar Cells

Benji Jerew — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:45:11 +0000

With all the talk about nanomaterials making up more efficient solar cells, most of the focus has been on graphene and its unique properties. It’s easy to forget that other elements could possibly be manufactured similarly. It stands to reason that if you can make one element into a monolayer, then you should be able […]

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Graphene’s Mechanical Strengths Overestimated, Scientists Prove

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:59:38 +0000

Graphene has been touted as the ultimate supermaterial – better conductivity, one-atom thickness, stronger-than-steel mechanical performance etc. However, Rice scientists have discovered recently that graphene may not be so mechanically potent, after all. Graphene is made of a single sheet of carbon atoms in a hexagonal pattern. At the very edge of the sheets, where […]

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Perforene: A Graphene Water Filter 100 Times More Efficient

Benji Jerew — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:03:20 +0000

True, the technology is a couple years away, but graphene-based Perforene developed by Lockheed could revolutionize desalination and water purification. Lack of freshwater is becoming an increasingly desperate situation, typical desalination is energy intensive and expensive, but a graphene water filter could be 100x more efficient. Graphene, a nanoscale material made up of pure carbon, […]

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Graphene Solar Cells Could be More Efficient than Semiconductor

Benji Jerew — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:17:55 +0000

Like the semiconductors silicon and gallium arsenide, graphene absorbs photons, but unlike these, the photon forces multiple electrons from their orbits, instead of just one. Semiconductor photovoltaic solar cells operate absorbing photons. When a photon is absorbed, it knocks a single electron out of place, which can be collected to generate an electric current. There […]

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LITX G700, The Graphene Additive That May Boost Electric Car Batteries

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:19:25 +0000

A new graphene-based additive for lithium ion batteries has been launched by Cabot Corp. The company claims that their LITX G700 can effectively upgrade the energy-storing performance. Cabot’s conductive additive has been designed specially for electric vehicle usage and high-end consumer electronics, but it’s cheaper then other additives, namely carbon nanotubes. The LITX G700 occupies […]

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10 Ways Graphene Can Make a Better World

Mila Luleva — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 08:32:27 +0000

The world’s strongest material- graphene, never fails to impress, with its numerous applications in various fields and industries. We decided to show you some of its greatest uses, hoping that at least one of them, if not all, will come in handy at some point in your life. 1. Goodbye rusting. Graphene is a well-known […]

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Rechargeable Batteries Revolutionized with Layered Nanomaterials

Leigh Hutchens — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 21:25:05 +0000

Kansas State University assistant professor of mechanical and nuclear engineering Gurpreet Singh and his team of engineers have discovered more efficient and less expensive methods for creating nanomaterials that can be used for lithium-ion batteries. Singh believes that understanding lithium interaction with single-, double-, and multiple-layer-thick materials will provide clues to the best way to […]

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Graphene/Nanotube Hybrid Produces High Performing Supercapacitor

Leigh Hutchens — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:37:12 +0000

Researchers at Rice University, led by James Tour, have created single-surface material for electronics and energy storage. The Rice team has developed a seamless graphene/nanotube hybrid that just might be the most successful electrode interface possible. Tour and his team have developed forests of nanotubes that grow vertically from sheets of graphene up to lengths […]

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Paper Scissors Could Offer Solution for Graphene-Based Energy Storage

Mila Luleva — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:21:21 +0000

Scientists from Northwestern University developed a method to make nanofluidic devices that can be used in batteries, water purification systems, energy harvesting and DNA sorting. Even more interesting is the fact that the method allows cutting the device in any shape or size, at it requires only paper and scissors. This makes it a promising […]

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Graphene Membranes Could Aid Water Filtering

Mila Luleva — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:16:40 +0000

Graphene has proven itself as not only a great conductor for heat and electricity, but also a perfect substance for a barrier film and bullet repellent. However, researchers from MIT, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, have discovered that although the material seems impenetrable, by building large membranes from single sheets of graphene grown by chemical vapour deposition, small […]

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Semiconductors Grown on Graphene Could Revolutionize Solar Power and Electronics

Benji Jerew — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:35:01 +0000

Graphene has been receiving a lot of worldwide attention, especially as a replacement for the rare and expensive silicon used in electronic devices today. Work has also been done to use the material for flexible devices, such as touch screens and solar cells. Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology [NTNU] have patented […]

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LightScribe-Etched Graphene DVDs Making Supercapacitors Better Than Batteries

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:49:29 +0000

I never found a true application to those LightScribe-enabled DVD writers, and although I have one in my laptop, I don’t remember using it more than one or two times. UCLA researchers, on the other hand, may have discovered the ultimate way to store energy by using this technology to create world’s most efficient supercapacitors. […]

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New Substrate for Graphene Could Finally Make It Useful and Electronics Greener

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:00:51 +0000

Graphene has lately been the electronic industry's spoiled kid - everybody wants to have a piece of the research, but few have the tools and inspiration to find something new. A team of researchers from the University of Arizona have found a material that can play the role of an insulator for the one atom-thick graphene layer. The team published their study in Nature Materials.

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Fluorographene, The Thinnest Insulator Yet Discovered, Could Have Green Uses

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:20:31 +0000

Kostya Novoselov and Andre Geim from the University of Manchester, the winners of this year's Nobel Prize for Physics, found that graphene, otherwise a good thermal and electrical conductor, has quite interesting insulating properties if combined with fluoride.

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New Graphene Production Technology Offers Hope for Cheap Hydrogen Storage

Ovidiu Sandru — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:42:58 +0000

Victor Aristov, a Ph.D. at the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research, along with a team of other researchers, has discovered how to produce high-quality graphene by using the cheapest methods possible.

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Graphene Flakes With Attached Brushes Improving Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:38:09 +0000

Until now, graphene could have theoretically been incorporated into the dye used to make the Graetzel cell to improve its efficiency, but what stopped the scientists to do that was that it always clumped together, forming graphite, which is of no use for a solar cell.

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Spanish Researchers Discover How Graphite Can Become Magnetic

Ovidiu Sandru — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 15:01:51 +0000

A team of physicists from the Autonomous University along with Francisco Guinea from the Institute of Materials Science from Madrid, Spain, have discovered that by removing individual atoms from a graphite surface, local magnetic moments can be created in the graphite.

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Javad Rafiee Inventing The Most Efficient Graphene-Based Hydrogen Storage

Ovidiu Sandru — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:55:20 +0000

Javad Rafiee, a doctoral student in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute developed a new method of ultra-efficient hydrogen storage based on graphene.

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New and Cheap Way to Make Graphene for Hydrogen Storage

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:16:58 +0000

A team of UCLA scientists (Yang Yang and Richard Kaner), located at the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), have discovered a technology of making graphene sheets in big quantities and at a low price. Graphene is being used to soak up hydrogen and store it efficiently.

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Graphene-Based Hydrogen Storage Tanks Open New Limits

Ovidiu Sandru — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:35:05 +0000

Not only US and Japan can take initiatives in this area, and here's the proof: a couple of researchers from Greece designed a material that almost meets the 2010 standards set by the US Department of Energy (DOE) for hydrogen storage, in terms of weight/pressure supported.

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New Graphene Layer to Double Ultracapacitors Storage Capability

Ovidiu Sandru — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:18:52 +0000

Engineers and scientists from the University of Texas at Austin, led by Rod Ruoff, a mechanical engineering professor and physical chemist, have created a one-atom thick layer of carbon, called "graphene", and they put it to use in electrical storage systems, such as ultracapacitors, a viable way to clean and efficient energy storage.

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