GRAPHERGIA Scientific Publication: Dry laser-assisted fabrication of F-doped graphene electrodes: Boosting the performance of Zn-ion hybrid capacitors

The publication shares the research related to the GRAPHERGIA project’s Work Package 2  Design, development and optimisation of textile-based TENGs and micro-flexible SCs., led by the Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH), Greece, and who is the coordination of the project. 

Abstract

Laser-assisted direct deposition of graphene on desired substrates has emerged as a versatile method for various applications. This “dry” and eco-friendly approach is practical for fabricating electrode materials for high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices. Herein, we introduce a novel laser-assisted explosive synthesis and transfer technique to synthesise, transfer, and deposit fluorine-doped graphene-like structures in a single step by irradiating a single precursor. Operating under ambient conditions, this method enables the deposition of the electrode material directly onto the current collector, avoiding manual transfer steps. Our electrochemical evaluation revealed significant improvements in zinc-ion capacitor performance, with the fluorine-doped graphene-like cathode achieving a discharge capacity of 19.5 μAh cm􀀀 2 at 1 mA cm􀀀 2 and energy density of 10.93 μWh cm􀀀 2 at 92μW cm􀀀 2. Density functional theory simulations elucidated the local bonding arrangement, particularly between Zn2+ ions and the F-doped graphene sheets, addressing issues related to device degradation over long-term operation, as the device retains ~ 65 % of its initial energy density after 10,000 cycles. Our results demonstrate the potential of this laser-assisted, industrially-relevant process for the direct deposition of graphene-based materials as superior electrodes for energy storage applications, offering a scalable and sustainable alternative to conventional wet-chemistry methods.