Status and Prospects of Laser‐Induced Graphene for Battery Applications

Abstract

Synthesis of 3D graphene by laser irradiation has emerged as a promising approach due to its multifunctionality, cost effectiveness, and simplicity. Herein, the emerging applications of laser‐induced graphene (LIG) in batteries are focused on. This type of 3D graphitic carbon offers several advantages, including 1) binder‐free self‐supported electrode configuration, 2) high electrical and ionic conductivity, 3) hierarchical porosity, and 4) controllable composition upon laser exposure. A comprehensive review of the current status of LIG synthesis and its development for battery applications is discussed. This includes using LIG as an electrode for lithium‐ and sodium‐ion batteries, a current collector for lithium‐metal batteries, an electrocatalyst for metal–air batteries, and a host and interlayer for lithium–sulfur batteries. Finally, the article concludes by giving the authors’ perspectives and outlook for developing this class of carbon materials for advanced battery systems.

Current Collector-Free Interdigitated Nb2O5//LiFePO4 Micro-Batteries Prepared by a Simple Laser-Writing Process

“…The observation of the electrode crosssection prepared by FIB (Figure 3B) reveals that the deposit grew as a bush-like structure, with sub-micrometer large balls embedded in the porosity as shown Figure 3C. One can notice the absence of geometric grains while comparing to the structure of the Au/Nb2O5 electrodes, which suggests different growing mechanisms owing to the difference in laser absorbance and thermal conductivity of these two different active materials [33]. Aside, the laser-writing of HAuCl4.3H2O -cellulose acetate / LiFePO4 films did not lead to the migration of Au nanoparticles (see Figure S7B) in the polyimide as it was the case for the Au/Nb2O5 flexible electrodes.…”

“…Energy storage materials could also be embedded on flexible substrate by taking advantage of the high energy locally brought by a laser beam. Indeed, the laser insulation of polyimide or GO-based films leading to laser-induced graphene (LIG) or laser-scribed graphene (LSG), respectively, open the path towards the preparation of flexible thin-film carboneous electrode materials [33]. In this scope, photoreduced graphene was used as anode for lithium-ion systems and delivered 156 mAh.g -1 at 40 C [30].…”

Laser-induced direct graphene patterning: from formation mechanism to flexible applications

“…However, LIG is susceptible to external forces during the transfer process, which results in electrode breakage. Another approach is to first prepare LIG as a powder and then pattern it onto the target substrate [173] . Compared to the first approach, the variety of substrate types is greatly increased from polymers to textiles, but the preparation process is more complicated.…”

Compared EC-AFM Analysis of Laser-Induced Graphene and Graphite Electrodes in Sulfuric Acid Electrolyte

“…In fact, the intense laser beam burns the pristine substrate and removes part of its mass. At the same time, the surface graphitization increases the number of defects, holes, and pores or, generally speaking, the surface’s roughness [ 27 , 28 , 29 ]. This process acts as one-step, scalable printing to produce carbon-based electrodes patterning on a stretchable and flexible platform [ 30 ].…”