Abstract:
This study demonstrates a facile and economical approach for fabricating laser-induced graphene (LIG), which results in improved electrochemical performance. Polyimide polymer was used as a starting material for LIG synthesis and irradiated under ambient conditions using a CO
2 laser. The prepared LIG samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy and FTIR, which validated the formation of multilayered graphene containing sp
2 hybridized C=C bonds. The FE-SEM revealed three-dimensional (3D) sheet-like structures, while HR-TEM images displayed lattice planes with an interplanar spacing of approximately 0.33 nm, corresponding to the (002) plane of graphene. The electrochemical performance of the as-prepared LIG samples demonstrated a remarkable areal specific capacitance (C
A) of 51 mF cm
−2 (170 F g
−1) at 1 mA cm
−2 (3.3 A g
−1) in a three-electrode configuration with 1 mol L
−1 KOH as the aqueous electrolyte. The LIG electrodes produced an energy density of ~3.5 µWh cm
−2 and a power density of ~350 µW cm
−2, demonstrating significant energy storage capabilities. Additionally, the electrodes exhibited excellent cyclic stability, retaining 87% of their specific capacitance after
3000 cycles at 1 mA/cm
2. The symmetric supercapacitor fabricated with LIG electrodes and the tested 1 mol L
−1 KOH electrolyte showed a specific capacitance of 23 mF cm
−2 and maintained excellent retention after
10000 cycles, showing LIG’s potential for supercapacitor applications.