Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite membrane comprising at least one 2D material and an inorganic porous material. The composite membrane described herein may be housed within a separation device which may be used for selective permeation of one or more gaseous compounds.

Abstract: A method of protecting a magnetic layer of a magnetic recording medium is provided to reduce the thickness of the magnetic spacing while improving corrosion resistance and tribological performance of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: There is provided a semi-permeable membrane comprising: at least two two-dimensional (2D) heterostructure layers of; and a polyelectrolyte layer between each 2D heterostructure layer of the at least two 2D heterostructure layers. There is also provided a method of preparing the membrane comprising: mixing a 2D heterostructure solution and a polyelectrolyte solution to form a mixture; and vacuum filtering the mixture onto a substrate to form the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention provides a nanocomposite coating comprising: a two-dimensional material; and a polymer, wherein the nanocomposite coating is semi-permeable and is for providing on porous material to improve selectivity towards one phase over others thereby enabling separation of that phase by mass transfer. There is also provided a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating, and a low temperature liquid phase separation method comprising flowing liquid mixture through a phase transformation and mass transfer unit comprising porous material coated with the nanocomposite coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing bulk BSCCO-based material, the method comprising: mixing a first solution with a second solution at a pre-determined temperature to form a gel, wherein the first solution comprises salts of at least bismuth, strontium, calcium and copper and the second solution comprises a precipitating agent; drying the gel to form a xerogel; grinding the xerogel to form a homogeneous metalorganic precursor; and calcining the homogeneous metalorganic precursor to form bulk BSCCO-based materials. Further steps may enable preparation of 2D BSCCO flakes.

Abstract: A method of making graphene includes providing a seed gas in the presence of a metallic substrate, providing a pulsed, ultraviolet laser beam, and moving the substrate or the laser beam relative to the other, thereby advancing a graphene crystallization front and forming an ordered graphene structure. In some instances, the substrate can have a surface with two-fold atomic symmetry. A method of recrystallizing graphene includes providing a pulsed, ultraviolet laser beam to a polycrystalline graphene sheet.

Abstract: In accordance with a version of the invention, graphene with a ferroelectric material is used as the transparent electrode material in an electrochromic device. The use of curved and dynamically flexing substrates enables flexible and stretchable applications for electrochromic films. Furthermore, the nonreactive and impermeable nature of graphene increases the durability of the device through increased resistance to external impurities. In addition, the incorporation of ferroelectric materials allows the device to exhibit nonvolatile usage; that is, devices can remain transparent with no external power source. Furthermore, devices may exhibit a charging effect, permitting recovery of energy stored in alignment of ferroelectric dipoles within the ferroelectric material.

Abstract: A graphene structure is provided. The graphene structure comprises a substrate layer and at least two graphene layers disposed on the substrate. The at least two graphene layers comprises a gate voltage tuned layer and an effective graphene layer and the effective graphene layer comprises one or more graphene layers. A magnetoresistance ratio of the graphene structure is determined by a difference in a charge mobility and/or a carrier density between the gate voltage tuned layer and the effective graphene layer. The charge mobility and/or the carrier density of the gate no voltage tuned layer is tunable by a gate voltage applied to the graphene structure. A magnetic field sensor comprising the graphene structure is also provided.

Abstract: A version of the invention comprises a device for controlling or interfacing with a computer or other form of communicable machine based on the pyroelectric effect, and includes at least one optically- and infrared- (IR-) transparent graphene electrode.

Abstract: A method of in-situ transfer during fabrication of a component comprising a 2-dimensional crystalline thin film on a substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a layered structure comprising a polymer, a 2-dimensional crystalline thin film, a metal catalyst, and a substrate. The metal catalyst, being a growth medium for the two-dimensional crystalline thin film, is etched and removed by infiltrating liquid to enable the in-situ transfer of the two-dimensional crystalline thin film directly onto the underlying substrate.

Abstract: Graphene and ferroelectric materials are used as tunable sensors for detecting and measuring radiation, such as infrared radiation. The low absorption and reflectance of graphene and interconnected graphene networks, for example in the infrared, are exploited for use in such tunable sensors. The active layer makes use of a unique property of ferroelectric materials, known as the pyroelectric effect, for measuring the intensity of impinging radiation. Using graphene electrodes may offer a significant increase in sensitivity, tunability and mechanical flexibility of sensors, such as infrared sensors. In one method, intensity of radiation is measured using variations in the doping level of the graphene electrode.

Abstract: Hot pressing hollow carbon nanoparticles results in a nano-carbon foam that can be used for energy storage, carbon dioxide capture or water desalination.

Abstract: A method of in-situ transfer during fabrication of a component comprising a 2-dimensional crystalline thin film on a substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a layered structure comprising a polymer, a 2-dimensional crystalline thin film, a metal catalyst, and a substrate. The metal catalyst, being a growth medium for the two-dimensional crystalline thin film, is etched and removed by infiltrating liquid to enable the in-situ transfer of the two-dimensional crystalline thin film directly onto the underlying substrate.

Abstract: A method of in-situ transfer during fabrication of a component comprising a 2-dimensional crystalline thin film on a substrate is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a layered structure comprising a polymer, a 2-dimensional crystalline thin film, a metal catalyst, and a substrate. The metal catalyst, being a growth medium for the two-dimensional crystalline thin film, is etched and removed by infiltrating liquid to enable the in-situ transfer of the two-dimensional crystalline thin film directly onto the underlying substrate.

Abstract: Hot pressing hollow carbon nanoparticles results in a nano-carbon foam that can be used for energy storage, carbon dioxide capture or water desalination.

Abstract: A graphene layer, used as an anti-corrosive protection medium for magnetic media, overcomes the existing problem of reducing the carbon overcoat layer thickness for magnetic media. Unlike the amorphous carbon that is currently used as an anti-corrosion layer, the impenetrability of graphene to all known gaseous substances enables full corrosion protection of the underlying magnetic medium with a layer of graphene that may be, for example, as thin as a single layer of graphene. The dry transfer of graphene onto magnetic recording disks is enabled, such that the resulting interface of the graphene with the magnetic layer is protested from contact with impurities.

Abstract: A version of the invention comprises a device for controlling or interfacing with a computer or other form of communicable machine based on the pyroelectric effect, and includes at least one optically- and infrared- (IR-) transparent graphene electrode.

Abstract: A method of protecting a magnetic layer of a magnetic recording medium is provided to reduce the thickness of the magnetic spacing while improving corrosion resistance and tribological performance of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A method of making graphene includes providing a seed gas in the presence of a metallic substrate, providing a pulsed, ultraviolet laser beam, and moving the substrate or the laser beam relative to the other, thereby advancing a graphene crystallization front and forming an ordered graphene structure. In some instances, the substrate can have a surface with two-fold atomic symmetry. A method of recrystallizing graphene includes providing a pulsed, ultraviolet laser beam to a polycrystalline graphene sheet.

Abstract: A graphene structure is provided. The graphene structure comprises a substrate layer and at least two graphene layers disposed on the substrate. The at least two graphene layers comprises a gate voltage tuned layer and an effective graphene layer and the effective graphene layer comprises one or more graphene layers. A magnetoresistance ratio of the graphene structure is determined by a difference in a charge mobility and/or a carrier density between the gate voltage tuned layer and the effective graphene layer. The charge mobility and/or the carrier density of the gate no voltage tuned layer is tunable by a gate voltage applied to the graphene structure. A magnetic field sensor comprising the graphene structure is also provided.