Tuning properties of flexible laser-induced graphene electrodes for pH detection
摘要
Laser-induced graphene (LIG) is a three-dimensional porous carbon material produced by CO2 laser irradiation of polyimide, enabling the fabrication of flexible and cost-effective chemical sensors. This study links the fabrication conditions to electrochemical performance for pH sensing, using different laser power and scan speed velocities at a fixed resolution. LIG produced at 25% laser power and 500 mm/s exhibited a distinctive fibrillar morphology with characteristics D, G, and 2D bands (I2D/IG = 1.46; ID/IG = 1.75) and a lateral crystallite size of 22 nm, confirming the presence of nanocrystalline carbon. Potentiometric evaluations in pH 4–10 solutions demonstrated good linearity (R2 = 0.99969), low hysteresis (15.19 mV), and high repeatability retention (96.3%), in contrast with diminished analytical capabilities obtained with typical porous LIG electrodes fabricated at lower laser power. The results highlight the importance of tuning laser parameters to tailor LIG morphology and surface properties that result in enhanced electroanalytical performance.
Graphical abstract