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

Laser-assisted direct deposition of graphene on desired substrates has emerged as a versatile method for a wide range of applications. This "dry" and eco-friendly approach is effective for fabricating electrode materials for high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices. Herein, we introduce a novel laser-assisted explosive synthesis and transfer technique to synthesize, 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 mu Ah cm(- 2) at 1 mA cm(- 2) and energy density of 10.93 mu Wh cm(-2) at 92 mu W 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 similar to 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.