Graphene research: numerous products, no acute dangers

Successful completion of the EU Graphene Flagship

26-Feb-2024 - The largest EU research initiative ever launched has come to a successful end: The Graphene Flagship was officially concluded at the end of last year. Empa researchers were also involved, such as molecular biologist Peter Wick, who was part of the Health and Environment work package from the very ...

Accurate rapid tests made from smart graphene paper

The potential range of applications covers virtually all chemical, biological and medical analyses that can be performed in aqueous solutions

29-Mar-2023 - A team led by ETH Zurich chemical engineers Chih-​Jen Shih and Andrew deMello have developed a rapid test system made of smart graphene paper. It only costs a few cents per test strip, is easy to use but is as accurate as lab measurements. The approach will impact more than just disease ...

Graphene dust not harmful, study finds

Analysis of health risks associated with graphene-containing particles

17-Jun-2022 - Graphene-based particles released from polymer composites after abrasion induce negligible health effects. Under the leadership of Empa, an international research team of the Graphene Flagship project conducted a study on the health risks of graphene-containing nanoparticles and recently ...

Biological risk potential of nanoparticles studied

28-Aug-2019 - Carbon nanoparticles are a promising tool for biomedical applications, for example for targeted transportation of biologically active compounds into cells. A team of researchers from the Physics, Medicine and Chemistry departments at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) has now examined ...

Will your future computer be made using bacteria?

Scientists are making graphene easier and more environmentally friendly to produce

12-Jul-2019 - In order to create new and more efficient computers, medical devices, and other advanced technologies, researchers are turning to nanomaterials: materials manipulated on the scale of atoms or molecules that exhibit unique properties. Graphene--a flake of carbon as thin as a single later of ...

Bionic catalysts to produce clean energy

04-Jul-2019 - Mixing microbes with carbon nanomaterials could help the transition to renewable energy. KAUST research shows microbes and nanomaterials can be used together to form a biohybrid material that performs well as an electrocatalyst. The material could be used in the solar-powered production of ...

How to purify water with graphene

02-May-2019 - Scientists from the National University of Science and Technology "MISIS" together with their colleagues from Derzhavin Tambov State University and Saratov Chernyshevsky State University have figured out that graphene is capable of purifying water, making it drinkable, without further ...

How safe is graphene?

Effects on people and the environment under the microscope

11-Feb-2019 - Graphene is considered one of the most interesting and versatile materials of our time. The application possibilities inspire both research and industry. But are products containing graphene also safe for humans and the environment? A comprehensive review, developed as part of the European ...

Mussel research strenghtens graphene

Polydopamine acts as binder to achieve high mechanical and electrical properties

24-Oct-2018 - Researchers demonstrated the mussel-inspired reinforcement of graphene fibers for the improvement of different material properties. A research group under Professor Sang Ouk Kim applied polydopamine as an effective infiltrate binder to achieve high mechanical and electrical properties for ...

Water-Soluble Warped Nanographene

Synthesis of a water-soluble warped nanographene and its application for photo-induced cell death

13-Feb-2018 - Graphene and its nano-sized little sibling, nanographene, are well known for their remarkable photoelectronic properties. However, biomedical applications are hampered by the insolubility of the materials, especially in water. A Japanese team of scientists has now introduced substituted “warped ...