Herein, we are reporting a rapid one-pot synthesis of MoS2-decorated laser-induced graphene (MoS2-LIG) by direct writing of polyimide foils. By covering the polymer surface with a layer of MoS2 dispersion before processing, it is possible to obtain an in situ decoration of a porous graphene network during laser writing. The resulting material is a three-dimensional arrangement of agglomerated and wrinkled graphene flakes decorated by MoS2 nanosheets with good electrical properties and high surface area, suitable to be employed as electrodes for supercapacitors, enabling both electric double-layer and pseudo-capacitance behaviors. A deep investigation of the material properties has been performed to understand the chemical and physical characteristics of the hybrid MoS2-graphene-like material. Symmetric supercapacitors have been assembled in planar configuration exploiting the polymeric electrolyte; the resulting performances of the here-proposed material allow the prediction of the enormous potentialities of these flexible energy-storage devices for industrial-scale production.
In certain polymers the graphenization of carbon atoms can be obtained by laser writing owing to the easy absorption of long-wavelength radiation, which generates photo-thermal effects. On a polyimide surface this process allows the formation of a nanostructured and porous carbon network known as laser-induced graphene (LIG). Herein we report on the effect of the process parameters on the morphology and physical properties of LIG nanostructures. We show that the scan speed and the frequency of the incident radiation affect the gas evolution, inducing different structure rearrangements, an interesting nitrogen self-doping phenomenon and consequently different conduction properties. The materials were characterized by infrared and Raman spectroscopy, XPS elemental analysis, electron microscopy and electrical/electrochemical measurements. In particular the samples were tested as interdigitated electrodes into electrochemical supercapacitors and the optimized LIG arrangement was tested in parallel and series supercapacitor configurations to allow power exploitation.
Laser-induced
graphene (LIG) emerged as one of the most promising
materials for flexible functional devices. However, the attempts to
obtain LIG onto elastomeric substrates never succeed, hindering its
full exploitation for stretchable electronics. Herein, a novel polymeric
composite is reported as a starting material for the fabrication of
graphene-based electrodes by direct laser writing. A polyimide (PI)
powder is dispersed into the poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) matrix
to achieve an easily processable and functional elastomeric substrate,
allowing the conversion of the polymeric surface into laser-induced
graphene (LIG). The mechanical and electrical properties of the proposed
material can be easily tuned by acting on the polyimide powder concentration.
The reported procedure takes advantage from the simple casting process,
typical of silicone elastomer, allowing to produce electrodes conformable
to any kind of shape and surface as well as complex three-dimensional
structures. Electrochemical capacitors and strain gauges are selected
as flexible prototypes to demonstrate the multifunctional properties
of the obtained LIG on the PDMS/PI composite substrate.
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