Laser-induced graphene formation on natural wood via CO₂ laser processing

This study presents a sustainable and direct approach for fabricating laser-induced graphene (LIG) on natural wood substrates using CO 2 laser processing. By systematically optimizing laser parameters, namely, power, scanning speed, and resolution, high-quality LIG patterns with low sheet resistance (~13.6 Ω/sq) were achieved on dense hardwood surfaces. The influence of wood microstructure on graphitization behavior was also investigated, revealing that diffuse-porous hardwoods such as Dalbergia odorifera exhibit superior morphological integrity and electrical performance compared to ring-porous species. Characterizations using Raman spectroscopy and SEM confirmed that an optimal parameter window (20% power, 45 mm/s, 1, 000-1, 200 DPI) enables the formation of uniform sp 2 carbon networks with minimal defects. These findings provide new insights into the rational design of wood-based LIG materials for sustainable and low-cost electronic applications.