Development and Characterization of Electrochemical Devices Using Ultraviolet Laser Induced Carbonization of Polyimide Films

Abstract

The Photonics Research Center has been investigating the ultraviolet (UV) laser carbonization of polyimide films to produce electrically conducting polymer films. In this research, broadband UV laser radiation (350 to 380 nm) from a continuous wave (cw) argon ion laser is used to write a conducting pattern on the surface of polyimide films. Two scanning mirrors under computer control allow line drawings produced in a computer aided design (CAD) program to be reproduced with high precision. The oxidation‐reduction of was selected as a system to examine the electron transfer rates of the carbonized surfaces. Using methods developed by Nicholson, cyclic voltammetry of a 10 mM solution of in 1 M KCl was used to determine the rate of electron transfer from fabricated carbonized Kapton electrodes. The rate of electron transfer of the Kapton electrode was much slower when compared to commercial platinum and glassy carbon (GC) electrodes under the same conditions.