Laser-induced graphene formation on different wood species: Dependence of electronic performance on intrinsic features of certain types of wood

Abstract

Conductive, 3D, porous graphene can be produced with a CO2 laser from a large variety of materials, including wood, at room temperature, and under inert atmosphere or after treatment for fire protection. Here, we investigated the suitability for direct conversion of 46 typical European and Asian woods into laser-induced graphene (LIG), without pre-treatment. The LIG was characterized by resistance measurements to determine if a conductive layer had formed, and via Raman spectroscopy. Here, we show, for the first time, that it is possible to produce LIG on certain woods under atmospheric conditions without additional fire protection treatment. We determined that the ability to produce LIG on untreated, natural wood under ambient atmosphere is favoured overall by a high density and a diffuse-porous xylem structure, as well as a high soluble lignin content. Some of these characteristics are similar to those required for high yields in char production. Problematic for the production of LIG-based electronics is the presence of pronounced growth rings, or other geometric wood features, with density variations, which can be reduced using specific cuts with minimized growth rings and absence of rays. This is the first time that untreated wood has been directly converted into LIG using a conventional CO2 laser and ambient atmosphere. Our results represent a further step towards the development of a new generation of sustainable electronics relying on natural materials.