Laster-Induced Graphitization of Lignocellulosic Cellulose Nanofiber Films Intended for Electronic and Energy Storage Applications

Graphitic carbon is a popular crystalline form of carbon commonly used in electronics and energy storage applications (Bressi et al., 2023). There is a large push to reduce the environmental impact of the production of graphite and graphene by finding environmentally and economically friendly alternative methods of production. It is possible to synthesize graphitic carbon utilizing laser irradiation on lignocellulosic cellulose nanofiber (LCNF) films to produce graphitic carbon intended for flexible electronic and energy storage devices (Lee & Jeon, 2019).<br/><br/>Flexibility and durability of the films were improved by adding polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to create an LCNF and PVA nanocomposite. This study used a 10W Snapmaker CO2 laser module to convert a film comprised of this nanocomposite into a graphitic carbon structure. LCNF was produced by alkaline peroxide pulping of wheat straw, mechanical treatment, and peracetic acid (PAA) treatment (Pascoli et al., 2023). Characterization of the prepared material includes Raman Spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and conductivity. After testing various film compositions and laser settings, optimal conditions were discovered and are ready to be implemented for creating flexible electronic and energy storage devices.<br/><br/><b>Sources</b><br/>Bressi, A. C., Dallinger, A., Steksova, Y., Greco, F. (2023). Bioderived Laser-Induced Graphene for Sensors and Supercapacitors. <i>ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces</i>, <i>15</i>(30), 35788-357814. 10.1021/acsami.3c07687.<br/><br/>Lee, S. & Jeon, S. (2019). Laser-Induced Graphitization of Cellulose Nanofiber Substrates under Ambient Conditions. <i>ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7</i>(2), 2270-2275. 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b04955.<br/><br/>Pascoli, D. U., Dichiara, A., Gustafson, R., Bura, R. (2023). A Robust Process to Produce Lignocellulosic Nanofibers from Corn Stover, Reed Canary Grass, and Industrial Hemp, <i>Polymers, 15</i>(4), 937. 10.3390/polym15040937.