Rice U. researchers flex muscle of laser-written
microsupercapacitors
(May 18, 2015) A microsupercapacitor designed by scientists
at Rice University that may find its way into personal and even wearable
electronics is getting an upgrade. The laser-induced graphene device benefits
greatly when boron becomes part of the mix.
The Rice lab of chemist James Tour uses commercial lasers to
create thin, flexible supercapacitors by burning patterns into common polymers.
The laser burns away everything but the carbon to a depth of 20 microns on the
top layer, which becomes a foam-like matrix of interconnected graphene flakes.