A new report published by MIT Technology Review on Friday stated that "Although the work only hints at possible solar applications, it shows that graphene could be considered a candidate for use in so-called third-generation solar cells. The term refers to yet-to-be-developed technologies that would overcome the physical limits of conventional solar cells and reach much higher efficiencies. Today's silicon cells have a theoretical efficiency limit of around 30 percent. Solar cells made of graphene might have a theoretical limit of over 60 percent."

It was reported in late January from Brussels, Belgium, that a graphene project led by Prof. Jari Kinaret of the Chalmers University of Technology in Goteborg, Sweden was one of two projects that won the EU technologies contest granting them 1 Billion dollars in funding.

Graphene is the thinnest known material, which conducts electricity far better than copper, is at least 100 times stronger than steel, and has unique optical properties. Important future uses include the development of fast, flexible and strong consumer electronics, bendable personal communication devices, lighter airplanes and artificial retinas.

It was also reported earlier this year that researchers at MIT had developed a new kind of photovoltaic cell based on sheets of flexible graphene coated with a layer of nanowires. The advance, they believe, could lead to low cost, transparent and flexible solar cells.

MIT Researchers stated that "graphene can be transferred onto various target substrates such as glass or plastic," which is exactly what Apple's patent filing has suggested. So the race is on to get this technology to market for consumer electronics such as Apple's iPhone and other iDevices.

The ability to extend the daily use of an iPhone or iPad without running out of power is why this technology is so important to future iDevices that will undoubtedly continue to add new power hungry features with each generation.