Stackable and Deployable Laser-Induced Graphene Layers Toward the Flexible Manufacturing of Smart 3D Honeycombs with Multifunctional Performance

Smart honeycombs are becoming the novel structural strategy for next-generation devices and equipments. Unfortunately, traditional surface-coating, structural immersing, and 3D printing approaches still face significant challenges in combining structural customization and performance multifunctionality. Herein, a brand-new processing strategy is developed to construct graphene-based smart honeycombs by stacking and deploying laser-induced graphene (LIG) layers with alternatively inserted adhesives. Through tuning key parameters, various LIG-enabled smart honeycombs (LIG-HC) can be assembled with scalable areal dimension and thickness, variable cell sizes and shapes, as well as patternable graphene clusters. By further understanding the process-dependent structural stability and electrical conductivity, multifunctional characteristics are systematically explored, including anisotropic mechanical, electrical, piezoresistive, and electromagnetic performance. To finally demonstrate the unique honeycomb multifunctionally applied in fields of aviation, an intelligent LIG-HC enabled aircraft-wing model is representatively constructed for performing anti-/de-icing, high-temperature warning, flame retardancy, pressure and vibration monitoring, as well as electromagnetic shielding and stealth. Laser-induced graphene (LIG) enabled smart honeycombs (LIG-HC) are creatively developed through the assembly of stackable and deployable LIG layers. With programmable process toward the construction of LIG-HC with scalable dimension, variable cell-structures and patternable graphene-clusters, an intelligent LIG-HC aircraft-wing model is demonstrated for reflecting its multifunctionality including anti-/de-icing, high-temperature warning, flame retardancy, pressure/vibration sensing, and electromagnetic shielding and stealth. image