Polyimide Research Articles

Laser-Induced Graphene-Based Fabry-Pérot Cavity Label-Free Immunosensors for the Quantification of Cortisol

There is a strong and growing need to monitor stress biomarkers in human beings and animals for real-time wellness assessment, which is a key indicator of health. Toward this, we report an optical fiber immunosensor based on laser-induced graphene (LIG) for the potential quantification and monitoring of cortisol hormone. The developed sensors were created using the Fabry-Pérot cavity principle. The cavities were filled with polyimide (PI) and, in some cases, PI mixed with gold nanoparticles. The interferometers were tested for temperature and refractive index, and an increase of two times in the sensitivity to the refractive index was observed due to the addition of the gold nanoparticles. In addition, the PI cavity was partially transformed into LIG using a CO2 20 kHz pulsed laser. The resulting LIG morphology was quite porous and presented a leafy texture. The presence of LIG creates a second cavity within the interferometer, and as a consequence, the spectral response of the interferometers resembled the Vernier effect. The refractive index behavior of the LIG-modified interferometers shows improvements in sensitivity up to 15.3 times due to the creation of the LIG cavity. The interferometers were then functionalized with anti-cortisol to promote an affinity for cortisol. Excellent sensitivities of up to -34.7±0.7 nm/log(ng/mL) were achieved within few ng/mL concentration ranges (within the 0.5 to 3 ng/mL). The results obtained show an increase of up to 50 times in sensitivity when compared with other cortisol sensors. The achieved limit of detection was 0.1 ng/mL for the proposed sensors. The sensors’ responses were also shown to be immune to the interference from substances such as glucose, sucrose, fructose, and ascorbic acid. This study lays the foundation for new cortisol biosensors demonstrating a great potential for detection in a simple and highly sensitive way, opening its path for relevant biomedical and environmental monitoring applications in real samples. As a future outline, selectivity studies employing the detection of cortisol in the presence of interfering agents, both using synthetic and real samples, will be accomplished in order to fully investigate the potential of these sensing tools in real-life scenarios.

Effects of the processing parameters and laser textures in friction stir spot welding of Al alloy and polyimide joints

In this paper, friction stir spot welding (FSSW) technology was introduced to join 7075 Al alloy to polyimide (PI) sheets. The effects of the FSSW parameters and laser textures on the microstructure and tensile shear load of the Al/PI joint were studied. The optimum FSSW parameters were the rotation speed of 2400 r/min, the plunge depth of 0.4 mm, the dwell time of 20 s, and the plunge speed of 10 mm/min. The tensile shear load of the joint increased owing to the laser textures in the Al alloy surface. Cross-sections showed that the mechanical locking was found between the Al alloy and PI. The XPS results revealed that no chemical bond were formed at the welding interface after laser textures. The joining mechanism of Al 7075 and PI was main the mechanical locking.

Structure-Foldable and Performance-Tailorable PI Paper-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators Processed and Controlled by Laser-Induced Graphene.

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) technology has provided a new manufacturing strategy for the rapid and scalable assembling of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG). However, current LIG-based TENG commonly rely on polymer films, e.g., polyimide (PI) as both friction material and carbon precursor of electrodes, which limit the structural diversity and performance escalation due to its incapability of folding and creasing. Using specialized PI paper composed of randomly distributed PI fibers to substantially enhance its foldability, this work creates a new type of TENG, which are structurally foldable and stackable, and performance tailorable. First, by systematically investigating the laser power-regulated performance of single-unit TENG, the open-circuit voltage can be effectively improved. By further exploiting the folding process, multiple TENG units can be assembled together to form multi-layered structures to continuously expand the open-circuit voltage from 5.3 to 34.4Vcm-2, as the increase of friction units from 1 to 16. Last, by fully utilizing the unique structure and performance, representative energy-harvesting and smart-sensing applications are demonstrated, including a smart shoe to recognize running motions and power LEDs, a smart leaf to power a thermometer by wind, a matrix sensor to recognize writing trajectories, as well as a smart glove to recognize different objects.

Inkjet-printed heater on flexible substrates for low voltage applications

Flexible heaters (FHs) have applications ranging from defoggers to flexural warmers, food processors, and thermotherapy. Printed FHs are particularly of interest as they offer unique advantages like high resolution, customization, low cost, and ease of fabrication. Here, we report printed FHs on polyethylene terephthalate substrate. The heater design is optimized to operate on a low voltage of five volts and yield high temperatures with a uniform temperature distribution across the surface. The heater has a fast response time of 15 s to reach its maximum temperature and does not show any degradation in performance after three months of operation. The heater maintains its temperature after continuous use for two hours and exhibits a minimum change in temperature upon bending. We have also developed and tested designs for zone heaters and nano heaters, where zone heater is suited for applications requiring heating in specified locations on a surface only. Whereas nano heater has an area of 1 mm2 and can produce high temperatures in this small area. Finally, we developed similar printed heaters on paper and polyimide (PI) substrates as well. Paper-based heater can achieve a temperature of 210 °C and can be used in disposable applications due to its low cost, whereas PI heater can achieve a temperature of 380 °C and is suitable for attaining high temperatures. These results manifest the use of FHs for various practical applications.

Development of New Polyimide/Spirulina Hybrid Materials: Preparation and Characterization

This study presents the synthesis and characterization of polyimide (PI-2) films incorporated with spirulina powder for potential biomedical applications. The synthesis of PI-2 was achieved through a two-step polycondensation reaction using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as the solvent. The incorporation of spirulina was systematically varied to investigate its effects on the structural and surface properties of the hybrid materials. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a tightly bound interface between spirulina and the PI-2 matrix, indicating effective dispersion and strong interfacial adhesion. Profilometry and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the homogeneous integration of spirulina within the polymer matrix, with resulting variations in surface roughness and chemistry. Contact angle measurements demonstrated altered wettability characteristics, with increased hydrophilicity observed with spirulina incorporation. Furthermore, blood component interaction studies indicated the variations in adhesion behavior observed for red blood cells, platelets, and plasma proteins. Water uptake studies revealed enhanced absorption capacity in PI-2 films loaded with spirulina, highlighting their potential suitability for applications requiring controlled hydration. Overall, this comprehensive characterization elucidates the potential of PI-2/spirulina hybrid materials for diverse biomedical applications, offering tunable properties that can be tailored to specific requirements.

Incorporating GO in PI matrix to advance nanocomposite coating: An enhancing strategy to prevent corrosion

Abstract This research endeavors to advance the anti-corrosive characteristics, mainly the physico-mechanical properties, by incorporating graphene oxide (GO) into a polyimide (PI) matrix. So, a nanocomposite coating is fabricated for an aluminum alloy substrate. Results reveal that the coating was uniformly dispersed across the surface signifying that the inclusion of GO increased the PI dispersion. The π–π stacking interactions between the aromatic rings of PI and GO contribute to their stability and improved anticorrosive properties. The incorporation of GO to PI films significantly enhances hydrophobicity, as evidenced by the increased contact angles. Assessing the corrosion resistance of the coating in a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and potentio-dynamic polarization establishes a prominent correlation between the percentage of GO and the anticorrosion efficiency of the composite coating. Precisely, the nanocomposite coating containing 5 wt% GO exhibits an impressive impedance modulus value of 107, and the corrosion current density (I cor) is drastically reduced by over three orders of magnitude, reaching 4.8 × 10−9 A cm−2, as indicated by the polarization curve. Also, prolonged immersion tests confirm the exceptional protective ability of the S5 coating (5 wt% GO), effectively shielding the metal for up to 100 h. After conducting diagnostic measurements, the hybrid nanocomposites of GO/PI examined in this study showcased their effectiveness as inhibitors in anticorrosive coatings. These composites played a vital role to hinder the oxidation of underlying aluminum alloy when exposed to oxidizing chemicals, water, or air, thereby extending the protective duration.

Van der Waals Epitaxial Growth of Ultrathin Indium Antimonide on Arbitrary Substrates through Low-Thermal Budget.

III-V semiconductors possess high mobility, high frequency response, and detection sensitivity, making them potentially attractive for beyond-silicon electronics applications. However, the traditional heteroepitaxy of III-V semiconductors is impeded by a significant lattice mismatch and the necessity for extreme vacuum and high temperature conditions, thereby impeding their in situ compatibility with flexible substrates and silicon-based circuits. In this study, a novel approach is presented for fabricating ultrathin InSb single-crystal nanosheets on arbitrary substrates with a thickness as thin as 2.4nm using low-thermal-budget van der Waals (vdW) epitaxy through chemical vapor deposition (CVD). In particular, in situ growth has been successfully achieved on both silicon-based substrates and flexible polyimide (PI) substrates. Notably, the growth temperature required for InSb nanosheets (240°C) is significantly lower than that employed in back-end-of-line processes (400°C). The field effect transistor devices based on fabricated ultrathin InSb nanosheets exhibit ultra-high on-off ratio exceeding 108 and demonstrate minimal gate leakage currents. Furthermore, these ultrathin InSb nanosheets display p-type characteristics with hole mobilities reaching up to 203 cm2 V-1 s-1 at room temperatures. This study paves the way for achieving heterogeneous integration of III-V semiconductors and facilitating their application in flexible electronics.

Colorless and transparent polyimide nanocomposites using organically modified montmorillonite and mica

In this study, we introduce a method for replacing the glass used in existing display electronic materials, lighting, and solar cells by synthesizing a colorless and transparent polyimide (CPI) film with excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability using a combination of new monomers. Poly(amic acid) (PAA) was synthesized using dianhydride 4,4′-biphthalic anhydride (BPA) and diamine 2,2-bis(3-amino-4-hydroxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane (AHP). Various contents of organically modified montmorillonite (MMT) and mica were dispersed in PAA solution through solution intercalation, and then CPI hybrid films were prepared through multi-step thermal imidization. The organoclays synthesized to prepare CPI hybrid films were Cloisite 93A (CS-MMT) and hexadimethrine-mica (HM-Mica) based on MMT and mica, respectively. In particular, the diamine monomer AHP containing a –OH group was selected to increase the dispersibility and compatibility between the hydrophilic clays and the CPI matrix. To demonstrate the characteristics of CPI, the overall polymer structure was bent and a strong electron withdrawing –CF3 group was used as a substituent. The thermomechanical properties, morphology of clay dispersion, and optical transparency of the CPI hybrid films were investigated and compared according to the type and content of organoclays. Two types of organoclays, CS-MMT and HM-Mica, were dispersed in a CPI matrix at 1 to 7 wt%, respectively. In electron microscopy, most of the clays were uniformly dispersed in a plate-like shape of less than 20 nm at a certain critical content of the two types of organoclays, but agglomeration of the clays was observed when the content was higher than the critical content. Hybrids using HM-Mica had better thermomechanical properties and hybrids containing CS-MMT had better optical transparency.

Decreasing the dielectric constant and water uptake of co-polyimide films by introducing bulky spirobifluorene and cross-linked tetrafluorostyrol groups

With the diminishing gap between the internal components of chips, the signal transmission delay poses a substantial threat to chip performance. To enhance the transmission speed of electrical signals, the development of materials with a low dielectric constant (Dk) becomes imperative. Polyimide (PI), categorized as a specialized engineering material, exhibits a high Dk (≥3), posing challenges in meeting the requirements of electronic and communication industries. Consequently, a new diamine monomer named BTVFD, characterized by spirobifluorene and cross-linkable tetrafluorostyrol groups, was synthesized. It was copolymerized with 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine (TFDB) and 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) to synthetize cross-linkable polyimides (TBPIs) with different BTVFD content. The cross-linked TBPIs (CL-TBPIs) were obtained by thermal cross-linking reaction. The study results demonstrate the Dk of PIs is significantly reduced through this effective strategy. Notably, CL-TBPI-2 exhibits outstanding comprehensive performance with low Dk (1.88@10 MHz) and dielectric loss (0.00513@10 MHz), low water uptake (0.125 %), high thermal decomposition temperature (5 % weight loss at 553 °C) and glass transition temperature (374 °C), excellent tensile strength (121.8 MPa) and nice transparency and flexibility.

Defect-Engineered Metal-Organic Framework/Polyimide Mixed Matrix Membrane for CO2 Separation.

Anovel defect-engineered MOF (quasi ZrFum or Q-ZrFum) was synthesized via a controlled thermal deligandation process and incorporated into a CO2-philic 6FDA-durene polyimide (PI) matrix to form Q-ZrFum loaded MMMs. Defect-engineered MOFs and fabricated MMMs were investigated in terms of their characteristic properties and separation performance. The incorporation of defects into the MOF structure increases the pore size and provides unsaturated active metal sites that positively affect CO2 molecule transport. After the deligandation process, the interfacial compatibility between the Q-ZrFum particles and the PI matrix increases, which improves the mechanical strength of Q-ZrFum loaded membranes. MMM containing 5 wt.% of defect-engineered Q-ZrFum exhibits excellent CO2 permeability of 1308 Barrer which increased by 99% compared to the pure PI membrane (656 Barrer) at a feed pressure of 2 bar. Moreover, CO2/CH4 and CO2/N2 selectivity reached 44 and 26.6 which increased by about 70 and 16%, respectively. This study emphasizes that defect-engineered MOFs can be promising candidates for use as filler in the preparation of MMMs for the future development of membrane-based gas separation applications.

Atomic-Level Matching Metal-Ion Organic Hybrid Interface to Enhance Energy Storage of Polymer-Based Composite Dielectrics.

In this work, a distinctive "metal-ion organic hybrid interface" (MOHI) between polyimide (PI) and calcium niobate (CNO) nanosheets is designed. The metal ions in the MOHI can achieve atomic-level matching not only with the inorganic CNO, but also with the PI chains, forming uniform and strong chemical bonds. These results are demonstrated by experiment and theory calculations. Significantly, the MOHI reduces the free volume and introduces deep traps across the filler-matrix interfacial area, thus suppressing the electric field distortion in PI-based composite dielectrics. Consequently, PI-based dielectric containing the MOHI exhibits excellent energy storage performance. The energy storage densities (Ue) of the composite dielectric reach 9.42 J cm-3 and 4.75 J cm-3 with energy storage efficiency (η) of 90% at 25°C and 150°C respectively, which are 2.6 and 11.6 times higher than those of pure PI. This study provides new ideas for polymer-based composite dielectrics in high energy storage.

Synthesis of novel Stachytarpheta jamaicensis flower liked hexagonal boron nitride nanoribbons (SJF-BNNBs) to efficiently improve the thermal/mechanical/electrical properties of flexible polyimide films

Heat dissipation has become a bottleneck restricting large-scale integration and flexible electronic technologies. This study reports a novel fabrication strategy to prepare flexible stachytarpheta jamaicensis flower-like hexagonal boron nitride nanoribbons (SJF-BNNBs) and their composite films with polyimide (PI). The effect of synthesis conditions on the morphology of SJF-BNNBs was investigated, and the growth mechanism was proposed. The in-plane and through plane thermal conductivities of the 4 wt% SJF-BNNBs/PI composite film reach 5.98 W m−1 K−1 and 0.79 W m−1 K−1, which are 3047 % and 316 % higher than those of the pure PI film, respectively. The in-plane and through plane thermal conduction enhancement efficiencies reach 761.8 % and 78.9 %, respectively. The tensile strength of the composite film is 61.7 % higher than that of pure PI, and maintains excellent electrical insulating and thermal stability properties. Infrared imaging tests verified the excellent heat dissipation performance of the composite film as a thermal interface material and a flexible copper clad laminate substrate, where the operating temperature of device could be reduced by 17.3 °C. To the best of our knowledge, SJF-BNNBs outperform the most efficient thermally conductive electrically insulating filler and are to break the overcome of polymer composites in heat dissipation applications.

Laser-induced fabrication of porous graphene for flexible planar microsupercapacitors with wide voltage window

Herein, laser-induced graphene (LIG) derived from polyimide (PI) is demonstrated to construct a flexible planar interdigital microsupercapacitors (MSCs) device with wide voltage window through simple laser-direct-writing method. The mechanism study of LIG derived from PI show that the photon energy of the laser is absorbed by the electrons and converted into heat energy, and the rapid energy accumulation produces extremely high temperatures leading to the graphitization of PI film. At the same time, the internal expansion and gas escape from the interior, the graphitized carbon material grows upward, resulting in the formation of porous graphene. As a demonstration of the supercapacitor application, the as-prepared LIG MSCs device show excellent supercapacitance performance, wide voltage window (0–1.8 V) and good mechanical flexibility. When the laser power is 2.75 W, that is, 50 % of the maximum power, the resulting LIG MSCs device has a high specific capacitance of 20.85 mF cm−2, a maximum energy density of 9.38 μWh cm−2, and good cycle stability with a capacitance retention rate of 101.09 % after 15,000 cycles. This work provides a simple method to prepare graphene-based MSCs and demonstrates great potential of the LIG MSCs in flexible wearable electronic devices.

Synergistically Constructed Lamination-like Network of Redox-active Polyimide and MXene via π-π interactions for Aqueous Storage

As a nonmetallic charge carrier, ammonium ion () has garnered significant attention in the construction of aqueous batteries due to its advantages of low molar mass, small hydration size and rapid diffusion in aqueous solutions. Polymers are a kind of potential electro-active materials for aqueous storage. However, traditional polymer electrodes are typically created by covering the bulky collectors with excessive additives, which could lead to low volume capacity and unsatisfactory stability. Herein, a nanoparticle-like polyimide (PI) was synthesized and then combined with MXene nanosheets to synergistically construct an additive-free and self-standing PI@MXene composite electrode. Significantly, the redox-active PI nanoparticles are enclosed between conductive MXene flakes to create a 3D lamination-like network that promotes electron transmission, while the π-π interactions existing between PI and MXene contribute to the enhanced structural integrity and stability within the composite electrode. As such, it delivers superior aqueous storage behaviors in terms of a notable specific capacity of 110.7 mAh cm–3 and a long lifespan with only 0.0064% drop each cycle. Furthermore, in-situ Raman and UV-vis examinations provide evidence of reversible and stable redox mechanism of the PI@MXene composite electrode during uptake/removal, highlighting its significance in the area of electrochemical energy storage.

Fluorescence behaviors of perylene-dispersed super engineering plastic films

We attempted to manufacture films in which fluorescent dye is dispersed using engineering plastic as a matrix which has high heat and chemical resistance as well as excellent mechanical performance. In this study, films containing highly dispersed perylene in colorless and transparent aromatic polyamide (PA) and polyimide (PI) were manufactured. The perylene-dispersed PA film emitted strong blue light with a maximum fluorescence at 457 nm. On the other hand, the perylene-dispersed PI film showed significant fluorescence quenching with its maximum fluorescence wavelength significantly red-shifted to 546 nm. The perylene-dispersed PI film treated with ethylene diamine at 80 °C showed strong blue fluorescence, and when the film was further heated at 200 °C, the fluorescence was quenched. These films are expected to be applied as back light unit or color conversion layer for OLED and Micro LED due to their excellent physical properties.

Enhancing Zinc Electrode Stability Through Pre-Desolvation and Accelerated Charge Transfer via a Polyimide Interface for Zinc-Ion Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-based energy storage devices possess superior safety, cost-effectiveness, and high energy density; however, dendritic growth and side reactions on the zinc electrode curtail their widespread applications. In this study, these issues are mitigated by introducing a polyimide (PI) nanofabric interfacial layer onto the zinc substrate. Simulations reveal that the PI nanofabric promotes a pre-desolvation process, effectively desolvating hydrated zinc ions from Zn(H2O)6 2+ to Zn(H2O)4 2+ before approaching the zinc surface. The exposed zinc ion in Zn(H2O)4 2+ provides an accelerated charge transfer process and reduces the activation energy for zinc deposition from 40 to 21kJ mol-1. The PI nanofabric also acts as a protective barrier, reducing side reactions at the electrode. As a result, the PI-Zn symmetric cell exhibits remarkable cycling stability over 1200h, maintaining a dendrite-free morphology and minimal byproduct formation. Moreover, the cell exhibits high stability and low voltage hysteresis even under high current densities (20mA cm-2, 10 mAh cm-2) thanks to the 3D porous structure of PI nanofabric. When integrated into full cells, the PI-Zn||AC hybrid zinc-ion capacitor and PI-Zn||MnVOH@SWCNT zinc-ion battery achieve impressive lifespans of 15000 and 600 cycles with outstanding capacitance retention. This approach paves a novel avenue for high-performance zinc metal electrodes.

Research and development of double layer P-doped laser induced graphene thin film electrode for flexible micro-supercapacitor applications

Laser-induced graphene (LIG) has garnered significant attention for its cost-effectiveness and high efficiency in fabricating flexible micro-energy storage devices. In this study, we devised a simple method to fabricate double layer P-doped LIG electrodes through repetitive laser induction technology for high-performance flexible energy storage applications. Instead of utilizing commercial polyimide (PI) thin film, we optimized the formation process of P-doped PI thin film and achieved a highly flexible double layer P-doped LIG thin film electrode with a uniformly porous structure and the high porosity through repeated laser induction processes. Experimental results demonstrated that the developed double layer P-doped LIG thin film electrode exhibits high porosity, high specific areal capacitance of 180 mF cm-2, and high energy density of 0.025 mWh cm-2. Furthermore, an all-solid-state micro-supercapacitor utilizing hydrogel electrolyte was assembled, demonstrating a high areal capacitance of 62 mF cm-2 and excellent cycling stability with 95% capacitance retention after 6000 charging/discharging cycles. Moreover, the developed all-solid-state micro-supercapacitor successfully powered a light-emitting diode, showcasing its significant potential for practical energy storage applications.

Characterization of electrokinetic and membrane properties of nanoporous polyimide films via measurements of time-resolved pressure-induced potential

Charged nanoporous films have interesting ion-separation properties essentially controlled by pore-surface charge density. This (or a related zeta-potential) is often estimated from the so-called streaming potential. However, with nanoporous membranes in sufficiently dilute electrolyte solutions, the pressure-induced electrical response is due not only to streaming potential but also to an electrical response to concentration gradients arising because of a partial salt rejection by charged nanopores. In this study, we refine the methodology of interpretation of measurements of transient filtration potential developed by us previously and apply it to the determination of electrokinetic and membrane properties (in particular, diffusion permeance) of nanoporous polyimide films developed for uses as battery/supercapacitor separators. Diffusion permeance is directly related to electrical conductance, which is an important property of battery/supercapacitor separators.We observe that in dilute electrolyte solutions (<2 mM KCl), the electrical response to an applied pressure difference is dominated by the concentration potential and not by the classical streaming potential contrary to what is often tacitly assumed. The development of concentration gradients across and around the film takes some time, which enables separate determination of instantaneous (streaming potential) and time-delayed (concentration potential) components. An improved interpretation procedure developed in this study enables estimates of impact of non-linear and osmotic corrections and makes the interpretation more reliable. The results of this study are important for the identification and optimization of novel innovative applications for nanoporous films.

Compact Monoenergetic Proton Generator in MeV Region Using NANOGAN

For simple applications, such as the calibration of a charged particle detector, a multi-MeV proton generator may be preferable to cyclotrons or electrostatic accelerators such as Van de Graaff. Thus, a compact proton generating system, consisting of 10Ghz ECR ion source NANOGAN and a deuteron target, was developed at the Research Center for Nuclear Physics at Osaka University. A 3He2+ beam was generated by the NANOGAN with the acceleration voltage of 20∼45 kV in an experiment that utilized the fusion reaction 3He + deuteron (d) → proton(p) + 4He. The monochromatic protons with energies of 14.67 MeV were successfully obtained at the atmosphere side of the target in the experimental setup, when a novel target base with a thin metal foil and Polyimide film window are used.

Flexible laser-induced graphene electrodes on polyimide film: Hybrid nanoflower-modified dielectric microjunctions for non-faradaic analysis

Laser-induced Graphene (LIG) electrodes on flexible substrates have attracted significant research interest, making them an excellent alternative to conventional fabrication of transducers on rigid planar substrates. In this study, four individual capacitor-like triangular LIG electrodes were fabricated on polyimide (PI) film with micron gap (MG) spacing of 30, 66, 125 and 180 µm, to study the relationship between gap spacing and capacitance. A novel N, N-carbonyldiimidazole-copper (CDI-Cu) hybrid nanoflower (NF) was synthesised via one-pot biomineralization and deposited at the triangular junction of acid-base treated LIG-MG for the immobilization of neutravidin. The gap spacing and structure of the LIG-MG were analysed using high-resolution microscopes, revealing a porous nanofiber-like graphene structure. X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) of acid-base treated PI film proved carboxyl group formation. A decrease in capacitance was observed with an increasing gap spacing in a non-faradaic environment. The capacitance of CDI-Cu NF following neutravidin modification for 30, 66, 125 and 180 µm spacings were 1.77E-07, 1.36E-07, 4.73E-08, 4.84E-08 F, respectively, suggesting excellent biomolecular modification sensitivity of the LIG-MG with 30 µm spacing. A comparative analysis of dielectric performance for different gap-spaced devices revealed that a 30 µm spacing would be optimal for bio-capturing because of the close confinement of biomolecules for smaller gapped areas.