New Atlas

Science Audio available

Graphene-enhanced material may be bound for the brain

Ben Coxworth November 26, 2018

There are a variety of situations that may call for the implantation of electrodes in the brain, ranging from the treatment of neurological conditions to restoring the function of paralyzed limbs. A newly-developed hydrogel could someday replace such electrodes, allowing for better functionality.

A sample of the electrically-conductive antibacterial hydrogel

Materials

Study suggests that most commercial graphene just isn't good enough

Ben Coxworth November 14, 2018

Graphene has a great deal of potential applications, including its use in energy storage, building materials and medical devices. According to the National University of Singapore, however, most commercially-produced graphene is of a poor quality.

Researchers from the NUS Centre for Advanced 2D Materials assess the quality of graphene samples

Energy

Bionic mushroom uses bacteria and graphene to generate electricity

Ben Coxworth November 7, 2018

Could your home one day be powered by patches of mushrooms? Probably not, but scientists have nonetheless created a "bionic mushroom" that does indeed generate electricity – and it may pave the way for more practical bio-electric systems.

An electrode network (branched pattern) and cyanobacteria (spiral pattern) were 3D-printed onto the mushroom

Materials Audio available

MIT punches out cell-sized robots made of graphene

Michael Irving October 23, 2018

MIT engineers recently managed to create cell-sized robots that could collect data about their environment, but were a little tricky to manufacture. Now, the team has found a way to mass produce these synthetic cells (syncells) through controlled fracturing of graphene.

MIT researchers have developed a technique to mass produce cell-sized robots out of graphene

Health & Wellbeing

Küschall makes Superstar wheelchair light and strong with some help from graphene

Paul Ridden September 26, 2018

Graphene – the "wonder material" that's stronger than steel and tougher than diamond – has recently found its way into experimental aircraft, clothing and concrete. And now Küschall has announced the Superstar, the first wheelchair to be built using the one atom thick form of carbon.

The Superstar's is reckoned to be lighter and tougher than classic carbon-fiber-based wheelchairs

Materials

New 3D printing process paints graphene aerogel in far finer detail

Michael Irving August 23, 2018

Graphene is famous as a two-dimensional material, but to really make the most of the stuff we need to coax it back into 3D forms. Now researchers from Virginia Tech have developed a new way to 3D print graphene aerogels with a far higher resolution than previously possible.

A 3D-printed piece of graphene aerogel, that's so light it can balance on top of a ...

Materials Audio available

Negative curvature schwarzite rounds out trinity of carbon nanostructures

Michael Irving August 14, 2018

Carbon atoms can form graphene sheets and buckyballs. Scientists have theorized that a third variation should exist with negative curvature, known as schwarzite. An international team has now found a way to create these structures, which may have unusual electrical, magnetic and optical properties.

The negative curve of schwarzite is represented in this graphic by the researchers

Aircraft

World's first graphene-skinned airplane unveiled in the UK

Ben Coxworth August 8, 2018

At the recent Farnborough Air Show 2018, aerospace engineers from Britain's University of Central Lancashire presented what they state is the world's first graphene-skinned aircraft. Known as Juno, the 3.5 meter-wide (11.5-ft) unmanned plane could be a sign of things to come.

Members of the engineering team pose with Juno

Energy

Laser-blasted graphene boosts capacity of sodium-ion batteries

Michael Irving July 30, 2018

Striking a balance between common materials and efficiency is important for batteries, and regular old salt looks like it could fit the bill – after a few kinks are ironed out. Now, KAUST researchers have developed a way to make disordered graphene that can improve the sodium-ion battery recipe.

A new technique to make disordered graphene could help improve the capacity of sodium-ion batteries

Materials

Move over, graphene: Iron ore mineral becomes newest 2D material

Michael Irving July 29, 2018

Brazilian researchers have created a new two-dimensional material called hematene, which is made up of sheets of iron ore just three atoms thick. And as is often the case with 2D materials, hematene seems to have different properties to its regular form.

Researchers have created a new two dimensional version of hematite, with unusual properties