Laser-induced and catalyst-free formation of graphene materials for energy storage and sensing applications.

[Display omitted] • It provides practical aspects of laser processing to achieve graphene materials. • It covers latest research on direct laser carbonization/graphitization of polymers. • Focusing on one laser processing operation: carbonization/graphitization. • Carbonization can occur at low temperature, unlike high-temperature graphitization. • Beam intensity profile characteristics of lasers are very crucial for processing. In recent years, laser-induced graphene (LIG) and laser-scribed graphene (LSG) have emerged as highly effective methods for graphene fabrication, offering precise control over patterned geometries. These laser-based approaches provide direct synthesis of graphene without the need for catalysts, enabling high-precision patterning of materials with enhanced properties, making ideal components for flexible electronic devices. The procedures show good potential for reduced synthesis costs when compared to alternative methods. This review presents an overview of the latest advancements in direct LIG/LSG formation from carbonaceous precursors, with a specific focus on nanostructured electrode patterning for energy storage (such as supercapacitors (SCs) and batteries) and sensing (including electrochemical sensors and biosensors). A diverse array of lasers has been employed to irradiate various substrates, including polymers like polyimide (PI) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), as well as biodegradable and edible materials such as wood, leaves, clothes, paper, and food, to directly generate graphene patterns. Key aspects addressed in this review include electrode designs, laser processing parameters, reduction and growth mechanisms, precursor materials, and processing atmospheres. Finally, the review outlines the main challenges encountered and discusses some of the most promising future directions in LIG/LSG and their application in energy storage and sensing devices. This comprehensive overview aims to shed light on the ongoing advancements and potential breakthroughs in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]