Abstract:

Courses with a high content in disciplines related to electronics or telecommunications require laboratories furnished with a large number of equipment enabling the application of the different concepts instructed in the theoretical lessons. One of the major problems faced by this type of laboratory lectures lies in the fact that a considerable budget is needed to equip and maintain them.

In this work, we propose the utilization of Laser-Induced Graphene (LIG) to develop cost-effective devices and circuits, facilitating the examination of various principles governing electronics and enabling the integration of affordable sensors. Laser induced graphene is a three-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterial that can be fabricated on a large number of substrates (including flexible substrates), with a low-cost and a fast fabrication, presenting very appealing characteristics for the creation of educational circuits. In addition to the above, LIG is a sustainable material which allows the manufacture of these devices reducing the carbon footprint w.r.t. what would obtain by fabricating the devices with conventional technology.

In particular, we present the fabrication of this type of material by using a low-cost laser along with the use of flexible polyimides, since this type of substrate, rich in carbon and oxygen, allows to obtain LIG after engraving it with the appropriate laser power and speed, releasing the oxygen atoms.

The aims of this study are as follows:
• Enable undergraduate students to study and fabricate conductive, sustainable and low-cost materials.
• Study the behaviour of laser abrasion on plastics by observing the change in the superficial conductivity of the material.

Employing these tools, we help students to enhance their enthusiasm towards the course subject matter and acquaint them with the process of electronic circuit fabrication.

Keywords:

Electronics engineering, laser induced graphene, carbon-based material, graphene, sensors.