Description
Chemical vapour deposition (CVD) graphene and biomedical markets in the USA feature in this month’s issue. A surprise announcement was the takeover of USA based biosensor manufacturer Cardea. Part of the surprise was that the company acquiring Cardea was, UK based graphene manufacturer, Paragraf. A UK company acquiring a topflight biotech company in the USA is unusual.
It makes perfect strategic sense for Paragraf. They have been signalling a move into the biosensor market for over a year. This action allows them to buy into the biosensor market segment. The alternative would have been to compete head-on with Cardea. This would have been expensive and messy given Cardea’s emerging dominance of the sector backed up with an extensive patent portfolio. We examine the dynamics of this on page 41.
The other CVD graphene development was made by researchers at Northwestern University who led the team that developed a new kind of graphene biosensor. This is a graphene tattoo sensor about five to ten centimetres in size. The sensor is placed in contact with the heart and detects arrhythmic signals. Then the sensor turns into an electrode defibrillator and can deliver an electric pulse to correct the heartbeat. It is worth remembering this device is made of graphene just one atom thin, quite astonishing.
There has been at least $10 million (USD) of investment in graphene companies this month. Stellantis and Lyten announced an undisclosed sum to develop Li-S batteries for EVs. $4 million has been invested by Rio Tinto in GMG’s Al-Ion batteries for its next generation mining trucks. Another $4 million is being invested in Carbon Waters’ graphene production factory in France. Nearly $2 million is being invested in graphene coatings for EMI shielding in Portugal, and neutron radiation shielding with hBN by Boeing.
More than $1.3 million of graphene application products sales are reported by various companies. Ionic industries have announced a deal worth $0.6 million for electrically conductive geotextile liners for water reservoirs. As well as being a water impermeable barrier, the geotextile acts as a sensor detecting leaks. Directa plus also announced that an $0.7 million order has been placed for its G+ textile liner. And, Black Swan and Nationwide engineering have announced further sales of graphene enhanced concrete for an industrial development in the UK.
It feels as though the whole sector has stepped up a gear this month. As usual, the stock markets seem unimpressed, perhaps this news will take time to have an impact on investor thinking. In the meantime, this issue will have an immediate impact on you, dear reader, I encourage you to explore this latest content.
Adrian Nixon
1st June 2023
