Laser-carbonization: Peering into the formation of micro-thermally produced (N-doped)carbons. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Huize; Delacroix, Simon; Osswald, Oliver; Anderson, Mackenzie; Heil, Tobias; Lepre, Enrico; Lopez-Salas, Nieves; Kaner, Richard B.; Smarsly, Bernd; Strauss, Volker
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 176(2021)
• Page Start: 500
• Page End: 510
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Carbonization -- Laser-carbonization -- N-doped carbon -- Carbon laser patterning -- WAXS -- Wide-angle X-ray scattering; Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.01.145
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: Even after centuries-old experience in carbonizing materials we can still learn new lessons and find new applications for carbonized materials. In the past decades, laser-assisted syntheses of materials have emerged as versatile tools for the fabrication of micro- and nanostructured functional devices. In this regard, laser-carbonization is of particular interest, as it provides a method for patterning eco-friendly and potentially biodegradable electronic materials for future applications in comparison to the state-of-the-art in flexible electronics. However, using molecular precursors for laser-carbonization has been a challenge for many years. We identified a set of three different precursors and conducted an in-depth morphological and compositional study to understand how molecular precursors must be prepared for the high-speed carbonization reactions used in laser-patterning. The resulting laser-patterned carbons (LP-C) or N-doped carbons (LP-NC) are different from their conventionally pyrolyzed reference products mostly in terms of morphology. A generally porous structure and a carbonization gradient induced by the top-to-bottom energy input are the most remarkable features. Additionally, the microstructure, the elemental composition and the resulting electronic properties are different as demonstrated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) analysis. Graphical abstract: Image 1