Entries by John Are Beukes

Graphene water filter turns whisky clear

Previously graphene-oxide membranes were shown to be completely impermeable to all solvents except for water. However, a study published in Nature Materials, now shows that we can tailor the molecules that pass through these membranes by simply making them ultrathin.

High-quality nanosheets can be deposited from liquid media

Liquid-phase exfoliation of nanosheets from bulk materials is generally achieved by high-energy processes like ultrasonication, coupled with chemical treatments to prevent reaggregation. Such methods can be effective and inexpensive, but monolayers usually make up no more than a few per cent of the yield, and residual chemical additives can compromise the properties of the resulting […]

Vertically Illuminated, Resonant Cavity Enhanced, Graphene–Silicon Schottky Photodetectors

The article reports vertically illuminated, resonant cavity enhanced, graphene–Si Schottky photodetectors (PDs) operating at 1550 nm. These exploit internal photoemission at the graphene–Si interface. To obtain spectral selectivity and enhance responsivity, the PDs are integrated with an optical cavity, resulting in multiple reflections at resonance, and enhanced absorption in graphene. We get a wavelength-dependent photoresponse […]

New tools for graphene growth by the Gladiator Consortium

​Due to its excellent properties, graphene is set to make an impact across a wide range of industries. Scalable production is one of the most important challenges. At Graphene Week in Athens, scientists from the European project Gladiator presented a new technique to monitor the growth of graphene, aiming to improve the quality and reduce the fabrication […]

The PolyGraph Project produces graphene-reinforced polymers

Graphene can be used to make car seats and aircraft antenna protection enclosures lighter, which will reduce fuel consumption. These are just two examples of the uses of this material exhibited during Graphene Week in Athens, where companies and research centres presented their latest results. Over 500 scientists and experts from 43 countries assembled for […]

Key to direct graphene transfer is the control of water intercalation

In new work, reported in ACS Applied Materials & Services (“Controlling Water Intercalation Is Key to a Direct Graphene Transfer”), researchers in Belgium demonstrate that interfacial water can insert between graphene and its growth substrate despite the hydrophobic behavior of graphene. In their paper, the researchers discuss in detail graphene delamination from platinum (Pt) surfaces using […]