Mega Electronics

INTEROFFICE MEMORAND UM
TO:
FROM:

SUBJECT:
DATE:
CC:

APPLE
ANDY VARGAS
LOURDES PERALES
BRENDA MIRAMONTES
THE WONDERMATERIAL GRAPHENE
OCTOBER 27, 2014
SANDI HUBNIK

Introduction
Imagine a piece of paper but a million times thinner, a material stronger than diamond
(Andre Geim). Graphene is a new material with useful potential applications in todays
technology. Now that phones have increased in value the last thing anybody needs is a broken
screen, but by replacing the fragile glass with graphene it will be virtually indestructible.
Currently gorilla glass is used in higher end electronics. A problem with glass screens being used
in todays Apple tablets and smartphones is that they are both inflexible and are expensive.
Corning Gorilla glass is strong and considerably resistant to scratches, yet is still susceptible to
damage.
Consumers buy protective cases along with screen protectors to avoid damages from an
accidental drop of a device, but this leads to a reduction in the devices functionality. A bulky
case only adds weight and diminishes the devices design.
Phone makers have been searching for other options, Sapphire Glass, but this is expensive to
mass produce and is still susceptible to damage when dropped if not carefully integrated into the
design of the phone. Sapphire is good at preventing scratches, but not with preventing cracks
which eventually leads to a shattered screen, therefore more likely to break when dropped. Even
if sapphire is used in future devices, consumers would be expected to pay significant additional
costs to an already expensive product.
As a product development team for Mega Electronics, we are directly affected by the
performance of our units in the field. With countless hours of research and development in the
consumer electronics industry, we are still susceptible to technological breakthroughs and
competitive advantage. Historically, we have developed our devices with glass screens. While
this has allowed us to grow as a company while providing a durable product to the public, it has
also not gone without notice that our glass substrate material hasn't ranked the highest on the
breakability scale.
According to a study from the American Chemical Society, touch screens that use graphene as
their main conductive element could be printed on a thin layer of plastic instead of the glass that
is seen on most handsets. (Andronico) The great potential graphene holds in the innovations of
new technology is a great opportunity and we definitely should take advantage soon. This new
material has also caught the attention of our competitors like Samsung, having the advantage to

the development of a superior product. This can turn into a major losses in market share of the
scaling down and liquidation of certain product division in our company.

Proposed Tasks
After examining secondary research through scientific sources, technology based websites, and
news articles the exposure of the possibilities graphene material has shown limitation within
primary research. Primary research has been gathered from a professional colleague in the
electronic industry performing for Mouser Electronics.
It is the new lead that can set apart the old technology to the new advances, but we are
specifically in the research of the smartphone industry that offers a potency for innovations. The
main insight of this new material was the cost of mass producing but not for long. Scientists at a
company called Cambridge Nanosystems say theyve found a way to produce it on an industrial
scale (Itv News) The start-up company is using the graphene research of the Department of
Materials Science and Metallurgy at Cambridge University.

Schedule
Description
Meeting at the library and conducting
Preliminary Research

Due Date
October 14th 2014

Report Proposal

October 21st 2014

Deliver Progress Report

November 5th 2014

Research Project Workshop

N/A

Front Matter

November 9th 2014

Research Report Body

November 3rd -13th 2014

Back Matter

November 14th 2014

Research Report

November 16th 2014

Experience
Our goal is to give a clear picture on how graphene is going to revolutionize the phone
industry. As a team, we show a common interest in the technology world as well as the creation
of a better product.
Lourdes PeralesLourdes previously worked for a logistics company where she performed quality assurance on
finished products. While helping produce quality products this developed an interest in the
advancements in technology and to share ideas like graphene for the improvement in future
electronics.
Brenda MiramontesBrenda is on top of new technology innovations and the discovering of precise materials that can
improve a product functionality. As an IPhone owner, she has experience the pros and cons that
this smartphone contains. One thing that the IPhone is subject to is a broken screen. With
constant research this led to the same direction Lourdes came to, which is the wonder material or
graphene.
Andy VargasAndy holds experience in exceeding customer's demands for instance, the quality of a product is
questioned when theres several failures within the engineering process of a particular product,
finding a solution is critical for the ultimate commitment of the customer.

Works Cited
Andronico, Michael. "The Indestructible Smartphone: Closer Than You Think." LAPTOP.
Purch, 9 July 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014
"Cambridge Scientists Perfect Way to Mass Produce Wonder Substance Graphene." ITV News.
N.p., 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
"Graphene May Change Electronics, but Not Anytime Soon." Tech Page One. Web. 22 Oct.
2014. <http://techpageone.dell.com/technology/graphene-may-change-electronics-but-notanytime-soon/#.VEc_1PldWAh>.

Novoselov, Kostya. "Beyond the Wonder Material." <i>Physics World</i>. 12 Aug. 2009. Web.
22Aug.2014.&lt;http://www.condmat.physics.manchester.ac.uk/fullpub/PhysicsWorld_2
009 beyond the wonder material.pdf&gt;
"Smartphones Of The Future Set To Use Graphene Touchscreens." Forbes. Forbes Magazine.
Web. 22 Oct. 2014. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasperhamill/2014/09/26/iphones-of-thefuture-could-use-graphene-touchscreens/>.
Yarow, Jay. "Here's Why Apple Didn't Use An 'Unbreakable' Sapphire Screen For The IPhone
6." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 23 Sept. 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
<http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-why-apple-didnt-use-unbreakable-sapphire-glassfor-the-iphone-6-2014-9>.

Mega Electronics
INTEROFFICE MEMORAND UM
TO:
FROM:

SUBJECT:
DATE:
CC:

APPLE
ANDY VARGAS
LOURDES PERALES
BRENDA MIRAMONTES
THE WONDERMATERIAL GRAPHENE
OCTOBER 27, 2014
SANDI HUBNIK

Purpose
To report the progress on the research being conducted by the product development team
covering the subject of the material graphene and also plans to successfully finish this research
report by November 16th 2014.

Summary
To date, we have done extensive research on the wonder material that is graphene. Through
research we have discovered that mass production of graphene is now possible according to Irish
scientists. One of the major problems is the lack of method to mass produce at an efficient rate
which leads to endless of possibilities. Many companies have already started racing against each
other to develop the next big thing. We have also done research on how graphene can be utilize
into a wide variety of applications like building superior batteries, and producing advanced
touchscreens.

Introduction

As stated in the proposal graphene is a new material with useful potential in applications of
todays technology. Graphene can be created by the mere lead in a pencil. Mobile phones have
increased in value, the last thing a consumer needs is a broken screen, but if the fragile glass
were to be replaced with graphene it would be virtually indestructible.
Currently Corning gorilla glass is used in higher end electronics. A problem with glass screens
being used in todays Apple tablets and smartphones is that they are both inflexible and
expensive. Corning Gorilla glass is strong and considerably resistant to scratches, yet still
susceptible to damage.
Consumers buy protective cases along with screen protectors to avoid damage from an accidental
drop of a device, but this leads to a reduction in the devices functionality. A bulky case only adds
weight and diminishes the devices design.
Phone makers have been looking into another option, Sapphire Glass, but this is expensive to
mass produce and is still susceptible to damage when dropped if not carefully integrated into the
design of the phone. Sapphire is good at preventing scratches, but not with preventing cracks that
eventually leads to a shattered screen, therefore more likely to break when dropped. Even if
sapphire is used in future devices, consumers would be expected to pay significant additional
costs to an already expensive product.
As a product development team for Mega Electronics, we are directly affected by the
performance of our units in the field. With countless hours of research and development in the
consumer electronics industry, our team is still susceptible to technological breakthroughs and
competitive advantage. Historically, devices have been developed with glass screens, and while
this has allowed us to grow as a company by providing durable products to the public it has also
not gone without notice that the current glass substrate material has not ranked the highest on the
breakability scale.
According to a study from the American Chemical Society, touch screens that use graphene as
their main conductive element could be printed on a thin layer of plastic instead of the glass you
see on most handsets. (Andronico) The potential graphene holds for innovated technology is a
great opportunity that our company should take advantage of soon. This new material has caught
the attention of our competitors, such as Samsung, whom have an advantage to the development
of a superior product in future devices. This can turn into a major loss in market shares of the
scaling down and liquidation of certain product divisions in our company.

Completed Work
Since the submission of the proposal, under Apples approval Mega Electronics has conducted
extensive research concerning the material graphene. Our findings have concluded graphenes
great potential use in mobile devices and found that it is suitable to be integrated into future
devices for a superior product, but there could be complications to achieve this goal. According
to an article in C&EN, Graphene is easy to acquire, at least in small amounts... (Savage). With
small quantities of graphene available this limits mass production of graphene, leaving only
enough to be for experimental use that is provided to product developers to try and find a
method to produce large quantities for commercial use. Another issue is from competitors like
Samsung who are already in the process to commercialization of the product.
Even though there are potential setbacks with mass production the material is still fairly new and
everyday there are advancements towards it becoming closer to being pushed into commercial
use. Currently, there are labs that are supported by the government and private sectors who
provide funding for research to explore graphenes potential. A Professor of Nanoscience at
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology says Graphene has a lot of potential,
especially in terms of industrial applications for optical and electronic devices (McKirdy).
There is no doubt that this substance carries a multitude of qualities such as its conductivity, it is
super strong, and transparent, but there is some data that shows graphene could be toxic to
humans. In a study from researches at Brown University, The scientists discovered that
graphene features jagged edges that can easily pierce cell membranes allowing it to enter into the
cell and disrupt normal function. (Dvorsky). When graphene is produced and cut into pieces
there are jagged edges that can only be seen on a microscopic level. During the manufacturing
process it is possible that the material could be inhaled or even pierce the skin and enter the
human body, this is a cause for concern because not much is known of the effects if the material
gets inside the human body. The good news is, now that we are aware of this problem we can
find a better and safer methods when handling this material for both producers and consumers.

Future Work
More research on graphene will be conducted diligently among the team gathering information
from the following sources:

Global breakthrough: Irish scientists discover how to mass produce wonder material
graphene
Community Of Lights
Beyond the wonder material

Digital Trends

Updated Schedule
The team is on schedule. Adjustment of the schedule was needed in order for the team to
complete the report on schedule.

Description

Due Date

Meeting at the library and conducting

Preliminary Research

October 14 2014

Report Proposal

October 21st 2014

Deliver Progress Report

November 5th 2014

Research Project Workshop

N/A

Front Matter

November 9th 2014

Research Report Body

November 3rd -13th 2014

Back Matter

November 14th 2014

Research Report

November 16th 2014

th

Conclusion
This progress report has updated you on the status of the research being conducted by the
product development team. As previously stated, the team is on schedule. However, if the team
encounters any impediments that will obstruct the submission of the report, all members of this
project will be notified. We have submitted our written proposal, and there is more research to
cover about the material graphene. We have encountered some investors that are in the process
of mass producing this material. This will directly affect us if we see that only a low amount of

supply that the market can offer. The team continues to conduct more secondary research on the
mass production of graphene as well as how it contains the great properties to revolutionize the
phone industry.

Works Cited
Andronico, Michael. "The Indestructible Smartphone: Closer Than You Think." LAPTOP.
Purch, 9 July 2014. Web. 3 Nov. 2014
"Cambridge Scientists Perfect Way to Mass Produce Wonder Substance Graphene." ITV News.
N.p., 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
Dvorsky, George. Graphene 'Miracle Material' could be toxic to humans. 15 July 2013. Web. 10
November 2014.
"Graphene May Change Electronics, but Not Anytime Soon." Tech Page One. Web. 22 Oct.
2014. <http://techpageone.dell.com/technology/graphene-may-change-electronics-but-notanytime-soon/#.VEc_1PldWAh>.
McKirdy, Euan. 'Miracle material' graphene one step closer to commercial use. 10 April
2014.<http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/10/world/asia/graphene-samsung-breakthrough/>.
Novoselov, Kostya. "Beyond the Wonder Material." <i>Physics World</i>. 12 Aug. 2009. Web.
22Aug.2014.&lt;http://www.condmat.physics.manchester.ac.uk/fullpub/PhysicsWorld_2
009 beyond the wonder material.pdf&gt;
Saltarin, Alexander. Graphene Mass Production Now Possible, Says Irish Scientists:
What Does This Mean for the Technology Industry? Tech Times RSS. N.p., 22 Apr.
2014. Web. 04 Nov.2014
Savage, Neil. A Solution for Graphene Production. 2014 18 2014.
<http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/web/2014/04/Solution-Graphene-Production.html>.
"Smartphones Of The Future Set To Use Graphene Touchscreens." Forbes. Forbes Magazine.
Web. 22 Oct. 2014.
Yarow, Jay. "Here's Why Apple Didn't Use An 'Unbreakable' Sapphire Screen For The IPhone
6." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 23 Sept. 2014. Web. 22 Oct. 2014.

THE WONDERMATERIAL GRAPHENE

Mega Electronics Inc.

Brenda Miramontes
Lourdes Perales
Andy Vargas
Date completed: November 17, 2014

Table of Contents

Abstract ................................................................................................ i
Introduction .... 1
Graphenes properties .. 2
Mass Production of Graphene .... 2
Who benefits from graphene? ... 3- 4
Conclusion .. 4
Glossary .... 5
Work Cited ........................................................................................ 6
Appendix ... 7 8

Abstract
Since graphenes discovery in 2004, graphene research and development has become a priority
for many major technology companies around the globe. This Wonder Material, has many
unique and desirable properties. In this report, we will focus on application of graphene when it
comes to smart phones. Our goal is to implement graphene into our product design in order to
produce a superior device.

Introduction
After reading this research report, the many benefits that graphene can provide to the iPhone will
become outstandingly clear. By replacing todays optical glass touchscreens and lithium ion
batteries to a sophisticated material known as graphene could revolutionize not only the iPhone
but also the mobile industry as we know it. The results from a drop test conducted by ZAGG, a
company that specializes in robust smart-phone accessories shows the accidents that occur most
frequently with mobile devices based on a survey. It should be of no surprise that the vast
majority of smart-phones were damaged from being dropped / fell on ground as shown in
Table 1 below. Consumers buy protective cases along with screen protectors to avoid such
damages from the accidental drop of a device, but this leads to a reduction in the devices form
and function. A bulky case only adds more weight and diminishes the devices original
dimensions. Our primary solution would result in manufacturing a rigorously tested,
indestructible phone using graphene. According to Business Insider: There are two things
people really want from an iPhone long battery life and an unbreakable screen. (Yarow)
Interestingly enough, both of these consumer demands from the iPhone can be remedied by the
use of graphene. Imagine the new iPhone that claims an unprecedented full recharge time of less
than 6 seconds on average.
Consumers will no longer need to worry about a fragile device once graphene is put into the
equation and as a direct result, they will be able to enjoy their device without the use of heavy,
bulky and often expensive cases. Add that to the luxury of having a fully charged phone
seemingly on demand.
Graphene has also caught the attention of many companies like Samsung, IBM, and Nokia. If
Apple decides to ignore graphenes potential it could easily turn into major losses in market
share of the scaling down and liquidation of certain product divisions in our company.

Table 1. A survey conducted on 768 US residents by Zagg, a company specialized in smartphone

accessories. Source: Triggs, Rob. Report: Smartphone owners are rather clumsy. 1 October 2014. Web. 16
November 2014.
1

Graphenes properties
The future of cell phone technology is right before our eyes. Imagine a lightweight and flexible
smart-phone. A touch screen constructed with graphene can be printed on a thin plastic sheet
instead of todays glass standard. Graphenes incredible strength could make cell phones nearly
unbreakable. This wonder material has the properties to make it attractive to a range of
applications. For example, graphene is only one atom thick. According to the University of
Manchester, thats approximately 1 million times thinner than a human hair. Its also stronger
than a diamond and 300 times stronger than steel. Not only is graphene a two-dimensional
material with extraordinary elasticity, but it can also conduct electricity better than copper and
store more energy than todays most advanced batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are in most
consumer electronics and the demand for energy storage in batteries is surpassing todays
technology. "Today, a typical cell phone battery takes between two and five hours to fully
recharge, explains John Lettow, president of Vorbeck Materials. (Koller) Graphene batteries on
the contrary, can charge almost instantaneously and are inexpensive to produce. According to
Inquisitr, An iPhone powered by a graphene super capacitor could charge in five-seconds. A
MacBook powered by a graphene super capacitor could charge 30-seconds. (Berkeley Lab)
This means that with graphene batteries, consumers can get more done on their devices by using
them more without the inconvenience of waiting lengthy amounts of time in order to charge their
devices.

Mass Production of Graphene

Graphene is a new and upcoming material thanks to its special attributes. However, mass
producing graphene has been one of the main issues preventing it from being widely adopted. It
currently takes material scientists ten days to produce a useable gram of graphene. As a result,
mass production is time consuming thus making it costly and intimidating in terms of business.
While the previous statement holds true, a team of researchers from Ireland and the UK have
come up with a new process to overcome this obstacle. This new process makes it possible to
mass produce graphene at a high volumes using a tested and reliable method. The new method
will improve time to market significantly from ten days to three and half hours.
Researchers have spent numerous resources trying to develop a method to mass produce
graphene. Their new process is actually rather simple. The process starts out with common
graphite otherwise known as pencil lead. Graphite is usually composed of two layers and
separating these layers can be rather difficult. The researchers submerged the graphite into water
and by placed the submerged assembly on a spinning apparatus, one the assembly is rotated at
high rpms, the graphite layers will then separate from each other resulting in a byproduct of
graphene sheets. Once the separating process of creating graphene is complete, the scientists
then implement a secret and protected final step to ensure the graphene sheets wont bond back
together which would bring it back to its original graphite anatomical structure

Who benefits from graphene?

Even though graphene is still limited to research and development labs, everyday scientists are
getting closer to a solution to allow companies to incorporate graphene in a vast array of
applications and begin production on quality products to be readily available for consumer use.
Graphene would benefit both our company and consumers. It would revolutionize future
products and create a higher standard for consumer devices. There would also be a potential gain
in loyal customers with higher satisfaction, therefore meaning longer customer retention which
benefits both the company and its consumers.

Company
With a growing demand for technology, the competition to bring the next big thing to market is
fierce. Incorporating graphene into our devices would give a competitive advantage above all
other companies in the electronics and mobile device industry. Incorporating graphene into
future products will produce superior designs with less susceptibility to damage lowering the
cost of repairs from replacing faulty and damaged devices. Because of graphenes properties, it is
highly desirable with its multitude of functions that we could employ in our designs, making
them nearly impossible to destroy. Not only could graphene be used on screens but also on other
components such as batteries, extending battery life and reducing the time needed for a charge to
full capacity. Our primary focus is to provide a superior alternative to glass screens because
broken or damaged screens are no doubt a problem for smart-phone owners. In a survey
conducted on 768 smartphone owners, nearly a quarter of the owners stated that the damages on
their smartphones were on their screens. Refer to Table 2.

Table 2. A survey conducted on 768 US residents by Zagg, a company specialized in

smartphone accessories. Source: Triggs, Rob. Report: Smartphone owners are rather clumsy. 1 October 2014.
Web. 10 November 2014.

Consumers
Most people have never heard of graphene because it is still a relatively new material. The
chances are, consumers will still have to wait for graphene to be widely accepted. However, the
most recent research and technological breakthroughs are promising to render the previous
statement untrue.
The main goal is to begin to use graphene in everyday products and theres no better place to
start than smartphones. What are the benefits consumers can expect from graphene? The
consumer will benefit from better product performance and durability in the field. In a study, it
was shown that consumers number one perceived threat to their devices was the threat of
damage from being dropped. (Refer to appendix) With a screen that implements graphene this
fear will have been reduced to irrational instead of expected.

Conclusion
There a lot of benefits that graphene can provide by incorporating it into the iPhone. Consumers
will not have to worry about a fragile device once graphene is put into the equation, and they will
finally be able to enjoy their device without the use of clunky aftermarket, expensive cases. No
longer will consumers have to worry about dead batteries or long charging times. Its just a
matter of time before this wonder material will revolutionize the consumer electronics industry
as we know it. The question is, will Apple be on the forefront of consumer demand, or will
competition such as Samsung be allowed to capture the market with this new technology?

Glossary
Gorilla glass- a lightweight, scratch-resistant and a durable glass product currently used in
touchscreen tablets.
Graphene- a two-dimensional material discovered by Professor Andre Geim research group at
the University of Manchester. Known properties: conductive, 300 times stronger than
steel, stronger than a diamond.
Super capacitor- a tool used to provide a very high electrical capacitance in a small package.
Wonder material- referring to the 2D material graphene

Work Cited
Berkeley Lab. "A Better Anode Design to Improve Lithium-Ion Batteries." A Better Anode
Design to Improve Lithium-Ion Batteries. The Advanced Light Source Communication
Group, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014
Graphene Batteries Offer 5-Second IPhone Charging." Inquister. N.p., Mar. 2013. Web. 15 Nov.
2014 "Graphene Industries - What Is Graphene?" Graphene Industries - What Is
Graphene? N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014'.
Hill, Simon. "Meet the Worlds First 2D Material: 5 Ways Graphene Could Transform Your
Phone." Digital Trends. Digital Trends, June-July 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
Koller, Greg, and Frances White. "License Will Lead to Faster-charging Batteries for Phones,
Electric Vehicles." Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The US Department of
Energy, 12 May 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
Nuwer, Rachel. "Materials360 Online." A New Method for Mass Producing High
QualityGraphene -. N.p., 21 Apr. 2014. Web. 15 Nov. 2014.
Oza, Nick. "What Is a Supercapacitor?" WiseGEEK. 2003-2014Conjecture Corporation, 11 Nov.
2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
Rouse, Margaret. "Gorilla Glass." What Is.com. N.p., Apr. 2013. Web. Nov. 2014.
Saltarin, Alexander. "Graphene Mass Production Now Possible, Says Irish Scientists: What
Does This Mean for the Technology Industry?" Tech Times RSS. N.p., 22 Apr. 2014. Web.15
Nov. 2014.
The Editors of Encyclopdia Britannica. "Rotor Spinning." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
"The Questions Everyone's Asking." The Home of Graphene. The University of Manchester, n.d.
Web. 30 Nov. 2014.
Yarow, Jay. "Here's Why Apple Didn't Use An 'Unbreakable' Sapphire Screen For The IPhone
6." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 23 Sept. 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.

Appendix

A survey conducted on 768 US residents by Zagg, a company specialized in smartphone

accessories. Source: Triggs, Rob. Report: Smartphone owners are rather clumsy. 1 October 2014. Web. 10
November 2014.

6Table 2. These are the Atomic structures of the six common forms of carbon: (a) coal, (b)
graphite, (c) diamond; (d) Bucky ball; (e) nanotube; and (f) graphene. The Photo shows
pieces of coal, a golf club made with graphite, and a diamond ring are all examples of
products that are made with the first three forms of carbon. Products made with Bucky balls,
nanotubes, and graphene are still under development.