A round up of all the latest nanotechnology and graphene business, product and research news this week. Highlights include new regulation from EPA, graphene quantum dots for commercial sale, new quantum dots solar tech, bio-imaging detection technology uses disease specific targeting nanoparticles and a new graphene production facility.
GRAPHENE NEWS
Graphene quantum dots producer signs deal with Sigma Aldrich
Dotz Nano has finalised the registration process with Sigma Aldrich to sell its graphene quantum dots (GDQ) through Sigma Aldrich’s online and printed catalogues. The GQD is an advanced multi-functional material used in various applications including medical imaging, sensing, consumer electronics, energy storage, solar cells and computer storage. The process of registration with Sigma Aldrich took over nine months and included multiple testing and validation of GQDs in an extensive quality assurance process. Prices are 1500 euros for 50ml. http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/substance/graphenequantumdots12345744044011?lang=en®ion=SE
New German research centre for graphene electronics and photonics
Graphene Flagship Partners RWTH Aachen University and AMO GmbH, both based in Germany, recently launched a new joint research centre with a focus on efficiently bridging the gap between fundamental science and applications within graphene and related materials based electronics and photonics. The five founding Principal Investigators of the Aachen Graphene & 2D-Materials Centre are all members of the Graphene Flagship and share the vision of bringing graphene and related materials research from the lab into applications. “The Center will help to turn the exciting properties of graphene and 2D-materials into true functions, making these materials not only fascinating for scientists but also serving society”, Christoph Stampfer explains.
Dutch researcher creates graphene spin device
University of Groningen scientists led by physics professor Bart van Wees have created a graphene-based device, in which electron spins can be injected and detected with unprecedented efficiency. The result is a hundredfold increase of the spin signal, big enough to be used in real life applications, such as new spin transistors and spin-based logic. Read more at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-00317-w
US researchers develop new method to isolate graphene
Research group of SungWoo Nam, assistant professor of mechanical science and engineering at University of Illinois, has developed a cleaner and more environmentally friendly method to isolate graphene using carbon dioxide (CO2) in the form of carbonic acid as the electrolyte solution. Read more at http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2017/TC/C7TC02487H
IMAGE: USING ONLY SODA WATER (CARBONIC ACID) AS THE ELECTROLYTE, CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION SYNTHESIZED GRAPHENE IS EASILY TRANSFERRED VIA UNDER-ETCHING DELAMINATION, ALLOWING FOR MULTIPLE REUSE OF THE METAL CATALYST SUBSTRATE.
CREDIT: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Super-light graphene metamaterial possesses high strength and flame resistance
A new featherweight, flame-resistant and super-elastic “metamaterial” has been shown to combine high strength with electrical conductivity and thermal insulation, suggesting potential applications from buildings to aerospace.
The composite combines nanolayers of a ceramic called aluminum oxide with graphene, which is an extremely thin sheet of carbon. Although both the ceramic and graphene are brittle, the new metamaterial has a honeycomb microstructure that provides super-elasticity and structural robustness. Metamaterials are engineered with features, patterns or elements on the scale of nanometers, or billionths of a meter, providing new properties for various potential applications.
Graphene would ordinarily degrade when exposed to high temperature, but the ceramic imparts high heat tolerance and flame-resistance, properties that might be useful as a heat shield for aircraft. The light weight, high-strength and shock-absorbing properties could make the composite a good substrate material for flexible electronic devices and “large strain sensors.” Because it has high electrical conductivity and yet is an excellent thermal insulator, it might be used as a flame-retardant, thermally insulating coating, as well as sensors and devices that convert heat into electricity, said Gary Cheng, an associate professor in the School of Industrial Engineering at Purdue University. A research highlight about the work appeared in the journal Nature Research Materials and is available at https://www.nature.com/articles/natrevmats201744.pdf. A YouTube video about the work is available at https://youtu.be/PVd-eS_KMlU.
A new composite material combines ultra-lightweight with flame-resistance, super-elasticity and other attributes that could make it ideal for various applications. Here, the material is viewed with a scanning electron microscope, while its flame resistance is put to the test. (Purdue University photo)
Rice University scientists have made wood into an electrical conductor by turning its surface into graphene. Rice chemist James Tour and his colleagues used a laser to blacken a thin film pattern onto a block of pine. The pattern is laser-induced graphene (LIG), a form of the atom-thin carbon material discovered at Rice in 2014. Read more at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adma.201702211/full
First Graphite to construct graphene production facility
First Graphite has received approval from the WA Department of Environment Regulation for the construction of a graphene production facility at the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson near Perth. This will be operational in the fourth quarter of this year. First Graphite said it will be the first ASX-listed company to have a commercial graphene production capability. The facility will cost less than $1 million and will be funded from existing cash. Initial capacity will be 20 to 25 tonnes per annum of saleable graphene. If suitable sales contracts are negotiated, multiple shifts could increase production to about 90 tonnes per annum, a globally significant level, said the company.
QUANTUM DOTS NEWS
Quantum dots solar cell developer signs licensing agreement
UbiQD has reached an agreement with Western Washington University and the University of Washington to exclusively license groundbreaking luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) technology developed at the two schools.
Unlike typical heavy opaque solar panels, this technology is partially transparent and lightweight, enabling windows or other surfaces, such as building facades, to become solar collectors.
NANOMEDICINE NEWS
New agreement for bio-imaging detection technology that uses disease specific targeting nanoparticles
Imagion Biosystems has entered into an agreement with StarFish Medical to design and develop its MagSense instrument platform for clinical applications. MagSense bio-imaging detection technology uses disease specific targeting nanoparticles and highly sensitive detectors to locate tumours and other diseased cells by their molecular signature.
Ohio State researchers develop regenerative medicine breakthrough
Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Ohio State’s College of Engineering have developed a new technology, Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT), that can generate any cell type of interest for treatment within the patient’s own body. This technology may be used to repair injured tissue or restore function of aging tissue, including organs, blood vessels and nerve cells. Results of the regenerative medicine study published today in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Researcher Chandan Sen with the nanotechnology-based chip designed to deliver biological “cargo” for cell conversion. Image: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
NANOCELLULOSE NEWS
Kyoto University collaborating with major Auto companies to develop cellulose nanofiber composites
Together with major parts suppliers such as Denso Corp. (Toyota’s biggest supplier) and Daikyo-Nishikawa Corp., researchers at Kyoto University are working on plastics with incorporated cellulose nanofibers — which are made by breaking down wood pulp fibers into fragments several hundredths of a micron (one-thousandth of a millimeter) in size. The university is also currently working with auto parts suppliers to develop a prototype car using cellulose nanofiber-based parts, set to be completed in 2020.
REGULATION
EPA issues new nanotechnology reporting rule
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued guidance materials for the recently-issued TSCA section 8(a) Nanotechnology Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Rule which becomes effective on August 14, 2017. This rule establishes one-time reporting and recordkeeping requirements for certain chemical substances when they are manufactured or processed at the nanoscale as described in the rule issued January 12, 2017.
INVESTMENT AND FUNDING
NSF fund nanoparticle solar tech
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $310,000 grant to Stephanie Brock, a professor of chemistry at Wayne State University, to investigate of new means to convert solar energy into electricity or fuel. Focus is on efficient solar cells and photochemical water-splitting (hydrogen fuel generation) systems. Brock’s research–dubbed Establishing a Chemical Toolbox for Programmed Assembly of Metal Chalcogenide Nanoparticles into ‘Wired’ Architectures–seeks to identify how to turn plentiful solar energy into circuit powering electrons or even into chemical fuel.
Alzeca Biosciences, Inc., an early-stage healthcare diagnostic company focused on developing novel MRI-based targeted imaging agents for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, announced today that it has closed an $11 million Series A financing.
Alzeca will use the funds to advance the development of its ADx nanoparticle, the first magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent targeting amyloid plaques, through Phase 1 human clinical trials. Amyloid is one of the key brain proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Additionally, the new funding will enable Alzeca to accelerate development of MRI-based imaging agents targeting other abnormal brain proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of dementia, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
