Highly Efficient Laser Bidirectional Graphene Printing: Integration of Synthesis, Transfer and Patterning

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Laser Processing

Background:

• Graphene's exceptional properties offer significant potential for advanced electronics.
• Current graphene preparation methods are often complex, costly, and inefficient, hindering device development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, efficient, and scalable method for preparing patterned graphene films.
• To demonstrate the application of the fabricated graphene films in flexible pressure sensors and Joule heating devices.

Main Methods:

• Development of a laser bidirectional graphene printing (LBGP) process using a nanosecond pulsed laser.
• Irradiation of a sandwich sample (thermoplastic elastomer substrate, carbon precursor, glass cover) to convert carbon precursor into graphene via photothermal effect.
• Simultaneous synthesis, transfer, and patterning of two face-to-face graphene films in a single step.

Main Results:

• LBGP successfully produced patterned graphene films on a thermoplastic elastomer substrate.
• The graphene patterns exhibited high sensitivity (7.7 kPa⁻¹) and fast response (37 ms) in flexible pressure sensing.
• The films demonstrated efficient Joule heating with a high heating rate (1 °C s⁻¹) and long-term stability.

Conclusions:

• The LBGP process is a simple, low-cost, and efficient technique for large-scale graphene film preparation.
• This method integrates synthesis, transfer, and patterning, paving the way for advancements in graphene electronics.
• The developed process shows promise for both flexible pressure sensing and Joule heating applications.