Graphene has a broad application space and great economic value. At present, the application research of graphene technology at home and abroad is in full swing, and the research hotspots are mainly concentrated in the preparation of graphene, energy storage, sensors, biomedicine and other aspects. The following are the top ten research progress on the preparation and application of graphene in 2021.
1.
South Korea developed single crystal large area wrinkle-free single layer graphene
In August 2021, the Korea Institute of Basic Sciences (IBS) developed a single large area of single crystal no fold no adsorption layer single layer graphene. In order to eliminate folds, the research team used a mixture of ethylene and hydrogen to grow graphene in the argon gas stream based on homemade copper-nickel foil, using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at temperatures of 1000K and 1030K, to obtain a large-area, wrinkle-free, single-crystal graphene film without adsorption layer. This uniform, wrinkle-free graphene carries charge faster, up to seven times faster than silicon and three times faster than existing graphene, paving the way for technological advances in areas and industries such as manufacturing semiconductors, displays, and solar cell products.
2.
The UK achieves continuous large-scale production of graphene
In March 2021, Imperial College London and the University of Birmingham developed new technologies to monitor mass production of graphene in real time, providing a pathway for controllable and customizable mass production of graphene. Combining fluid dynamics, numerical simulations, and material characterization, the researchers used top-down production methods to enable manufacturers to control the number of atomic layers of graphene produced, enabling real-time monitoring of mass and production speed. The new technology uses green solvents and can be used to make other two-dimensional materials.
3.
Airbus filed a patent application for a functional graphene reinforced prepreg that protects against lightning strikes
In August 2021, Haydale, a global advanced materials group, announced that it had shared with Airbus an intellectual property right for a series of lightning-resistant graphene-enhanced prepregs, and Airbus filed a joint patent application for the technology. Compared to existing carbon/epoxy resin systems, the addition of functional graphene/2D fillers facilitates the iterative production of composites with significant lightning resistance, thereby reducing the need for copper mesh. The materials development was supported by the UK's National Aerospace Exploration Programme (NATEP) Lightning Protection Graphene Composites (GraCELs2) project. Haydale CEO Keith Broadbent said he looks forward to adding new technologies to functionalized masterbatch products to further improve the performance of the range.
4.
The new graphene aerogel can be used as an aircraft sound insulation material
In June 2021, the University of Bath in the United Kingdom developed a graphene oxide-polyvinyl alcohol aerogel weighing only 2.1 kg per cubic meter, which became the lightest aircraft sound insulation material ever made. In the range of 400-2500Hz, the average sound absorption coefficient is as high as 0.79, and the average sound transmission loss can reach 15.8dB. The aerogel is used as a sound insulation material within the aircraft engine, reducing the 105 dB roar generated by the jet engine when it takes off to a sound similar to that of a hair dryer. The researchers will optimize the material to provide better heat dissipation, improving fuel efficiency and safety. The material can also be used to manufacture panels in helicopter or car engines.
5.
Toray develops graphene dispersions with excellent fluidity
In March 2021, Toray Corporation of Japan developed ultra-thin multilayer graphene dispersion with excellent fluidity, electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity. By adding a unique polymer material to control viscosity and inhibit aggregation caused by interactions between graphenes, the researchers obtained a high concentration ultra-thin graphene dispersion with high fluidity. The new material has high dispersibility, easy to mix, can be used as a conductive material for lithium-ion batteries, easy to mix with cathode materials to improve conductivity, reduce the capacity loss during repeated charging and discharging, compared with the current electric vehicle battery usually used carbon nanotube conductive agent, battery life is extended by 50%.
6.
The graphene flagship launches the GrEEnBat project to improve battery technology for electric vehicles
In April 2021, Graphene Flagship plans to launch a new project called "Graphene High-Energy Batteries for Automotive Applications" (GrEEnBat), which aims to improve battery technology for electric vehicles. The three-year project will create prototypes of automotive battery modules consisting of 60 to 90 pure electric vehicle batteries. The negative electrode of the battery is at the heart of innovation, consisting of a silicon-graphene composite material developed in an earlier graphene flagship research project. Combined with patented graphene manufacturing technology, Graphene's flagship industrial partner will achieve module prototypes with 80% capacity after 1,000 cycles, meaning a total driving range of up to 450,000 km/h.
7.
The United States develops low-cost graphene-reinforced ceramic matrix composites
In September 2021, Mag7 Technologies developed CeraGraphe, a polymer-derived graphene-reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC), and has begun to license its technology. This ceramic-graphene paste is suitable for a variety of CMC applications, especially at extremely high temperatures. Graphene-reinforced CMC parts, such as ceramic brakes and bolts, not only have good heat resistance, but also have high structural integrity, solving the traditional problem of frequent replacement due to wear. Mag7 Technologies extracts graphene from less expensive graphite through an in situ process, and then distributes the resulting graphene evenly in the composite and covalently binds to the ceramic precursor throughout the matrix, so CeraGraphe is relatively inexpensive and adaptable and can be applied to any ceramic precursor polymer, such as polysilazane.
8.
Graphene "thermal switches" dynamically regulate the heat of electronic devices
Modern devices equipped with lithium-ion batteries are prone to failure or poor performance in extremely hot or cold environments. In August 2021, engineers at Purdue University in the United States developed a "thermal switch" made of compressible graphene foam, which dynamically adjusts according to the internal and external temperatures of the equipment to maintain consistent thermal management. Graphene foam consists of nanoscale carbon particles deposited in a specific pattern with small voids in between. When the foam is not compressed, it acts as an insulator, and the air pocket keeps the heat in place. But when the foam is physically compressed, the air escapes and more heat is conducted through the foam. Depending on how much the foam is compressed, the heat transfer can be precisely adjusted. The potential applications of this form of dynamic thermal management are not just mobile phones, but also for electric vehicle batteries, spacecraft and biomedical equipment.
9.
Graphene inkene helps shield electromagnetic interference
In August 2021, researchers at the Heras Institute (FORTH) in Greece and the University of Patras incorporated centimeter-scale monolayer graphene as a reinforcing material into polymer nanolayers to develop effective electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding products. Large-size single-layer graphene produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technology has a large transverse size, and the alternating layers of polymer and graphene are evenly and controllably dispersed, ensuring effective stress transfer and overcoming the shortcomings of high filling requirements for nanoparticle fillers. The researchers used a semi-automatic process to produce centimeter-scale CVD graphene/polymer nano-laminates, and the thin laminate showed very high electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency in the terahertz range, reaching 60dB at a thickness of 33 μm, and the absolute EMI shielding efficiency per unit was among the best among synthetic non-metallic materials. These high-performance nanolaminates are suitable for aerospace, automotive, and many electronic applications.
10.
Stretching changes the graphene electronic properties to open the way for new sensors
In June 2021, a study by the Swiss University of Basel found that uniform stretching can change the electronic properties of graphene. The researchers placed a layer of graphene between two layers of boron nitride and then used a wedge to apply force from the lower direction to the center of the shelf to control the stretching of the entire graphene layer. The researchers then optically calibrated the stretch of graphene and measured the electrical properties of the stretch at -269 °C using electrical transmission. The results show that uniform stretching changes the distance between nuclei, thereby changing the characteristics of graphene's electronic state. This research will facilitate the development of new sensors and transistors.