Novel optical technique for 2D graphene reduction

Engineering a low-cost graphene-based opto-electronic device is a challenging task to accomplish via a single-step fabrication process. Recently scientists have started focusing on the development and use of a laser-based method for efficient reduction of graphene oxide (GO) films at low-temperature. Our proposed technique utilizes a laser beam for non thermal reduction of solution processed GO layers onto film substrates. Compared to other reduction techniques, it is a single-step, facile, time consuming, non-contact operation, environment-friendly, patternable, low cost, and can be performed at room temperature in ambient atmosphere without affecting the integrity of either the physical properties or the lattice of graphene. Laser scribed reduced graphene (LSRG) is shown to be successfully produced and selectively patterned from the direct laser irradiation of graphite oxide films under ambient conditions. In addition, by varying the laser's intensity, power, and irradiation treatments, the electrical properties of LSRG can be accurately attune over five orders of magnitude of conductivity. Feature has proven difficulty with other methods. This credible, scalable approach is mask-free, does not require certain expensive chemical reduction agents, and can be performed at ambient conditions starting from aqueous graphene oxide flakes. The non thermal nature of this method combined with its scalability and simplicity, makes it very attractive for the manufacturing of future generation large-volume graphene-based opto/electronics.