Fabrication of stretchable carbon electrodes using CO2 laser

• Grant number: 23/16254-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: August 12, 2024
• End date: August 11, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Murilo Santhiago
• Grantee: Leonardo Hideki Hasimoto
• Supervisor: Charles Henry
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Colorado State University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/00955-0 - Study of the influence of mechanical deformations on the performance of stretchable devices based on MoS2 for application in the energy area, BP.DR

Abstract

In the current doctorate research project, stretchable electrodes based on gold and PDMS were successfully developed ensuring good electrical conductivity even at 20 % strain. However, despite its successful development, gold is a noble metal, presenting high production costs. Therefore, to minimize the costs of the currently applied electrodes, more economically feasible alternatives need to be investigated. Carbon allotropes as electrically conductive materials are attractive due to their broad availability, high chemical stability, and high electrical conductivity. Moreover, the direct conversion of carbon-rich surfaces into conductive tracks through laser direct writing (LDW) has been shown to be promising for the development of flexible electrodes in different areas, presenting many advantages such as spatial selectivity, high resolution, and scalability. The synthesized carbon-based material, known as laser-induced graphene (LIG), has been applied to the development of sensors and biosensors, strain gauges, and supercapacitors for instance. Therefore, as initially described in the doctorate research project, for the Research Internships Abroad (BEPE), the development of LIG/PDMS-based electrodes will be studied using a CO2 laser system (10.6 µm wavelength). The electrical and electrochemical performance of the electrodes produced will be investigated. In addition, different parameters such as velocity, repetition rate, and power will be studied to obtain the best performance. Characterization techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and laser scanning confocal microscopy will be conducted to prove the graphitization of the surfaces and investigate the morphology of the conductive films.