Graphene News

Lyten has announced it has secured more than $200 million in additional equity investment. This brings total investment to date in Lyten to more than $625 million. The additional investment is provided primarily from current investors. Lyten intends to accelerate its acquisition strategy and expansion plans in both the US and Europe with the additional capital.Additionally, Lyten announced it has acquired the rights to Northvolt’s energy storage products, Voltpack Mobile Systems (VMS), Voltrack, and future BESS products currently in development. This is Lyten’s third Northvolt-related acquisition since November 2024. The VMS product is already in its third generation, with commercial installations throughout Europe. The core members of Northvolt’s energy storage engineering team will be joining Lyten in Stockholm, Sweden, and VMS and future BESS products will be manufactured in Gdansk, Poland.

INBRAIN Neuroelectronics has announced the interim analysis of findings from the world’s first-in-human clinical study of its graphene-based brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. The study, sponsored by the University of Manchester and conducted at the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences (Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust), is evaluating the safety and functional performance of graphene-based electrodes when used during surgery for resection of brain tumors. The primary objective of the study (NCT06368310) is to assess the safety of INBRAIN’s brain-computer interface (BCI) during brain tumor surgery. Secondary objectives include evaluating the quality of neural signals captured by the device, its ability to deliver targeted brain stimulation, the consistency of its performance throughout the procedure, and its overall suitability for use in the neurosurgical operating room. A total of 8 to 10 patients are expected to be enrolled to validate the safety and functional performance of the graphene-based BCI. The study design included an interim analysis after the first four patients had been recruited to ensure patient safety and data quality.

It was recently reported that Italy-based Directa Plus, producer and supplier of graphene-based products and owner of SetCar in Romania, has plans to develop the Romanian graphene market. “Directa Plus, one of the most important European companies actively engaged in the research, development and commercial use of graphene, is ready to use its expertise and know-how in Romania, in this new field. Directa Plus and local partner companies can make Romania a true hub for Eastern Europe in graphene and for various technologies and products that use graphene, from the decontamination of polluted sites to the production of batteries,” said Giulio Cesareo, CEO of Directa Plus.

Scientists have cracked open a mysterious layer inside batteries, using cutting-edge 3D atomic force microscopy to capture the dynamic molecular structures at their solid-liquid interfaces. These once-invisible electrical double layers (EDLs) twist, break, and reform in response to surface irregularities phenomena never seen before in real-world battery systems. The findings don t just refine our understanding of how batteries work at the microscopic level they could fundamentally change how we build and design next-generation energy storage.

For the first time ever, scientists have watched electrons perform a bizarre quantum feat: tunneling through atomic barriers by not just slipping through, but doubling back and slamming into the nucleus mid-tunnel. This surprising finding, led by POSTECH and Max Planck physicists, redefines our understanding of quantum tunneling—a process that powers everything from the sun to your smartphone.

Researchers at the University of Manchester's National Graphene Institute, in collaboration with medical technology company T. J. Smith and Nephew Limited, have developed a new type of antimicrobial coating that could improve hygiene across healthcare, consumer, and industrial products. Silver has long been used to fight bacteria, particularly in wound care, because of its ability to release ions that damage bacterial cells. But current approaches suffer from several downsides: silver can be released too quickly or unevenly, it may damage surrounding healthy tissue, and it's often used in quantities that aren’t sustainable. The team tackled these issues by designing a graphene oxide-based membrane that can release silver ions slowly and precisely over time. The key lies in the structure of the membrane itself, its nanoscale channels act like filters, regulating how much silver is released.

Penn State researchers have uncovered a surprising twist in a foundational chemical reaction known as oxidative addition. Typically believed to involve transition metals donating electrons to organic compounds, the team discovered an alternate path—one in which electrons instead move from the organic molecule to the metal. This reversal, demonstrated using platinum and palladium exposed to hydrogen gas, could mean chemists have misunderstood a fundamental step for decades. The discovery opens the door to fresh opportunities in industrial chemistry and pollution control, especially through new reaction designs using electron-deficient metals.

Researchers from Guangdong University of Technology and Georgia Institute of Technology recently developed a method to achieve thin-film supercapacitors (TFSCs) without using metal parts or traditional separators. Their tiny 3.8 cm³ device is even capable of outputting 200 volts - enough to light 100 LEDs for 30 seconds or a 3-watt bulb for 7 seconds. The method could help power next-generation microelectronic devices, especially those used in harsh or space-constrained environments. (a) Schematic diagram of tandem metal-free TFSCs with four fabrication steps included. (b) Assembly diagram of a single TFSC. Image credit: International Journal of Extreme ManufacturingAt the heart of the technology is a simple but effective laser process. The researchers used a CO₂ laser to transform sheets of commercial polyimide (PI) paper into 3D graphene. This graphene paper plays multiple roles: it acts as the energy-storing electrode, the electrical connector, and the structural support, all at once.

Researchers from China's Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (Chinese Academy of Sciences) have observed the quantum friction phenomenon at solid-solid interfaces for the first time, making a significant breakthrough in quantum friction research. By folding graphene sheets, the researchers induced internal strain that altered how electrons moved through the material.The nature and mechanism of friction are seen as core scientific questions - especially at the microscopic level. Scientists long believed it arose from rough surfaces rubbing together, where tiny bumps and sticky spots resisted motion and transformed energy into heat. The researchers utilized nanomanipulation techniques to construct folded graphene edge topological structures with controllable curvature and layer numbers. Systematic measurements of nanoscale friction were conducted.

Researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and Nagoya University have created a new way to study the mechanical behavior of graphene nanosheets. The technique enables direct measurement of bending rigidity in sheets with structural defects, without the need for laboratory experiments. Graphene's structure sometimes includes rings of five or seven carbon atoms instead of the usual six. These "defects" change the sheet's shape - five-membered rings make it cone-like, while seven-membered rings give it a saddle shape. Until now, it was hard to measure how these defects affect the sheet's ability to bend without using complicated experiments. The new approach combines powerful computer simulations and a theory used for describing the bending of biological membranes. This makes it possible to predict how sheets with different types or arrangements of defects will bend, just by looking at their atomic structure.

A pioneering team at the University of Maryland has captured the first-ever images of atomic thermal vibrations, unlocking an unseen world of motion within two-dimensional materials. Their innovative electron ptychography technique revealed elusive “moiré phasons,” a long-theorized phenomenon that governs heat, electronic behavior, and structural order at the atomic level. This discovery not only confirms decades-old theories but also provides a new lens for building the future of quantum computing, ultra-efficient electronics, and advanced nanosensors.

Separating gases efficiently is important for applications like hydrogen production and carbon dioxide capture. Gas separation membranes, especially those made from graphene oxide (GO), show promise because they can selectively allow certain gases to pass through. However, conventional GO membranes currently face a major limitation: while they can separate gases like H2 and CO2, the rate at which gases move through these membranes is too slow for practical use.Researchers at the National University of Singapore, Missouri University of Science and Technology and Radboud University have developed a new approach to creating crumpled GO membranes that exhibit both a higher H2 permeability and selectivity (i.e., ability to distinguish between different gases). Their method could facilitate the real-world use of these membranes to produce clean H2 and capture gases that are harmful for the environment.

Black Swan Graphene has provided an update on its ongoing commercial initiatives, underscoring the success of its strategic approach to providing Graphene-Enhanced Masterbatch™ or GEM™ (“GEM“) to the polymer industry. This model, which involves working closely with distribution partners and masterbatch manufacturers, continues to demonstrate its value by supporting product adoption and maximizing market reach.“We are incredibly excited to see our efforts and investments culminating in significant progress toward commercialization as our graphene gains traction in the industrial sector. As for many innovative products, the initial commercialization is paramount, as progress with prospective customers and production activities can provide supply security for eventual customers. As volumes expand, not only will the Company be able to compete more effectively in higher-volume applications, but lower production costs open doors to more price-sensitive markets. The path to commercialization success is now clearly within reach,” stated Michael Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Black Swan.

Aalto University physicists in Finland have set a new benchmark in quantum computing by achieving a record-breaking millisecond coherence in a transmon qubit — nearly doubling prior limits. This development not only opens the door to far more powerful and stable quantum computations but also reduces the burden of error correction.

Estonia-based Jälle Technologies has secured €2 million in pre-seed funding to further develop its battery recycling and material upcycling processes. The round includes equity investments from Kiilto Ventures, 2C Ventures, EIS, KIK (Environmental Investment Centre), and angel investors Andrus Purde and Priit Viru, as well as grants from Enterprise Estonia (EIS) and the Environmental Investment Centre (KIK). Jälle focuses on recovering critical raw materials from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and converting graphite waste into graphene-like materials. The company plans to use the funding to expand pilot-scale production, validate its proprietary technology at an industrial level, and grow its technical team.