Large Area Millisecond Preparation of High-Quality, Few-Layer Graphene Films on Arbitrary Substrates via Xenon Flash Lamp Photothermal Pyrolysis and Their Application for High-Performance Micro-supercapacitors

Abstract

We report a method for fast, efficient, and scalable preparation of high-quality, large area, few-layer graphene films on arbitrary substrates via high-intensity pulsed xenon flash lamp photothermal pyrolysis of thin precursor films at ambient conditions in millisecond time frames. The precursors comprised poly(2,2-bis(3,4-dihydro-3-phenyl-1,3-benzoxazine)), and cyclized polyacrylonitrile and possess significant absorption cross section within the bandwidth of the emission spectrum of a xenon flash lamp. By localizing light absorption to the precursor films, the process enabled the preparation of few-layer graphene films on any substrate, including thermally sensitive substrates without the need for any catalytic substrate as in chemical vapor deposition-based approaches or conductive electrodes as in electrochemical methodbased approaches. The extent of conversion of the precursor films to graphene was strongly dependent on pulse energy and the local temperature achieved due to photothermal effect, which were controlled via pulse power modulation; it also depended on structural properties of the precursor and to a lesser extent on the substrate. The cPAN showed a higher efficiency for conversion to graphene, as confirmed by Raman spectra (I D /I G ∼ 0.3), and sheet resistance of 0.1 Ω cm. To demonstrate the utility of the process, graphene film electrodes prepared photothermally on carbon fiber current collector were used for the fabrication of micro-supercapacitors with a very high areal supercapacitance of 3.5 mF/cm 2 . Subsequent deposition of manganese oxide onto the fabricated electrodes significantly increased the energy storage capability of the supercapacitor, yielding a device with exceptionally high capacitance of 80 F/g at 1 mA current, good rate capability, and long cycle life.

Recent advances in graphene-based electroanalytical devices for healthcare applications

“…Epitaxial growth of graphene is also possible on silicon carbide substrates. 53 Thermal pyrolysis 54 or laser-based scribing of various carbon-containing sources (which are discussed later) also yield GR with diverse structures and properties. 12 These methods generally result in GR that has a higher density of defects due to the chaotic formation process during manufacturing.…”

Transforming the Petroleum Industry through Catalytic Oxidation Reactions vis-à-vis Preceramic Polymer Catalyst Supports

“…Many areas of material and chemical science, such as solar cell supercapacitors and fuel cells, have also focused on catalysts with preceramic polymers as support. − Catalysts have emerged as one of the most appropriate carrier materials and electron collectors for increasing the separation and transfer of photoinduced charge carriers due to their large specific surface area, chemical stability, and high charge carrier mobility. The use of single atom metals in stimulating the dissociative adsorption of methanol and methane has been established in a recent study, with an emphasis on preceramic polymer and the likes as support. ,− Due to their large absorption range in the visible light section and long carrier diffusion length, single-atom catalysts using preceramic polymers as support have also been brought to attention for their optoelectronic applications …”

Probing Electrocatalytic Synergy in Graphene/MoS2/Nickel Networks for Water Splitting through a Combined Experimental and Theoretical Lens

“…19,20 Our group recently reported a rapid, efficient, and scalable approach to prepare porous graphene using photothermal pyrolysis (using xenon flash lamp (300−1100 nm)) of polymeric materials such as polybenzoxazine and polyacrylonitrile on various substrates such as CC, Kapton, and stainless steel in a few seconds. 21 We highlight that this process can be utilized for large-scale porous, few layer graphene production.…”

“…Given these considerations, porous graphene sheets on carbon cloths (CC) can be an ideal substrate for an active electrocatalyst like nickel or MoS 2 due to their high electrical conductivity and well-aligned porous structure. , Our group recently reported a rapid, efficient, and scalable approach to prepare porous graphene using photothermal pyrolysis (using xenon flash lamp (300–1100 nm)) of polymeric materials such as polybenzoxazine and polyacrylonitrile on various substrates such as CC, Kapton, and stainless steel in a few seconds . We highlight that this process can be utilized for large-scale porous, few layer graphene production.…”