Graphene Technologies Showcased at Mobile World Congress

The Graphene Pavilion at Mobile World Congress showcased the latest innovations of Versarien, Talga Resources Ltd, GrapheneTech and Atomic Mechanics, all companies associated to the Graphene Flagship. Through new prototypes, marketed products and live demos, these companies provide applications of graphene and related materials for mobile technologies and wearables, as well as new methods to make mass production affordable.

A transparent and flexible force-touch human machine interface for robotics surgery and prosthetics

The British company Atomic Mechanics demonstrated a technology that may transform the way we interact with mobile phones and wearables: opening up new ways of controlling our digital devices.

Atomic Mechanics developed a graphene-enabled, force-sensitive film that is transparent and can be assembled onto curved plastic. By pressing your finger onto the sensor film, the sensor will measure the force and send a signal to the motor and light, modulating its speed and intensity respectively. Existing force sensors are opaque, rigid and bulky. Moreover, they must usually be mounted on a solid plane. Atomic Mechanics' technology enables force sensors in a transparent flexible film format, combining the flexibility, transparency and conductivity of graphene-polymer films. Thanks to their Micro Electromechanical Systems (MEMS), these technologies are durable and reliable, creating a fully customizable MEMS sensor solution. 

Making force-touch interfaces flexible will allow a new design paradigm for electronic devices. This technology can be used as an electronic skin, which would allow any surface to become responsive to its environment, for applications in prosthetics hands, robotics surgery, gaming, digital music and many other applications in the Internet of Things and industry 4.0.

Graphene enhances audio quality of treble and bass – Versarien earphones are already commercially available

British company Versarien exhibited the first graphene earphones available on the market. Their technology improves the quality of audio reception for mobile phones, thanks to a graphene-enhanced diaphragm that is thinner and more flexible than traditional materials.

Independent testing found that this graphene diaphragm improves both the treble and the bass sounds. The earphones are already available at Mediadevil London for use on mobile phones and other audio devices.

Graphene inks to improve circuit and sensor flexibility

Among the examples of graphene mass production methods, GrapheneTech, a Spanish SME focused on the R&D of high-performance nanomaterials, exhibited their nanoplatelets powder. This is produced using a proprietary, top-down, green process based on mechanical exfoliation, without the use of any solvents or additives. GrapheneTech is currently developing a range of graphene products. At Mobile World Congress, they showcased graphene inks for flexible, large printed electronics and sensors.

From graphite to graphene for batteries and aerospace composite panels

At Mobile World Congress, Talga Resources Ltd showcased another successful example of graphene mass production. Talga's know-how on advanced material technology will enable stronger, lighter and more functional graphene and graphite products for the global battery, coatings, construction and composites industries. 

Talga uses graphene and other graphitic products to develop better Li-ion battery anodes and cathodes with faster charging, higher power, safer low-temperature performance and corrosion protection of current collectors. Remarkably, Talga's conductive graphene composites bring huge advantages for the aerospace industry, bringing an alternative to traditional copper mesh that is 75% lighter while maintaining both stability and lightning strike protection. Some of these products were showcased in the Graphene Pavilion. 

Sources: Graphene Flagship; Versarien; Talga Resources Ltd; GrapheneTech; Atomic Mechanics.

SCOPE project communicates the visionary research results of the Graphene Flagship partnering environment researchers.

Contact details:
For questions related to communication support: scope_project@fecyt.es 
For questions related to the travel/mobility grants support: graphene-eu@esf.org