Powering the future with graphene: high-performance, flexible laser-induced graphene and ionic liquid gel electrolyte micro-supercapacitors for wearable electronics

Kurzfassung

Conventional technologies face fundamental physical limitations in meeting the growing demand for low-cost, flexible, lightweight, robust, and inherently safe energy storage systems [1]. Recently, flexible micro-supercapacitors (FMSCs) have emerged as a promising alternative, driving a paradigm shift away from bulky, discrete units toward versatile, structural, and wearable energy components. However, conventional liquid electrolytes present severe drawbacks, including leakage risks, flammability, and poor mechanical flexibility, that hinder their application in textile-based wearable electronics [2,3]. Ionic liquid gel electrolytes ("ionogels") effectively overcome these limitations by offering wide electrochemical voltage windows, non-flammability, zero leakage, and excellent mechanical resilience. They further provide superior interfacial compatibility, enhanced energy density, long-term cycling stability, and seamless scalability for textilebased manufacturing [2].

Developed within the framework of the EU-funded GRAPHERGIA project (grant agreement No: 101120832) under the Graphene Flagship, this work presents advanced fabrication strategies for high-voltage gel polymer electrolytes (GPEs) engineered specifically for next-generation smart textiles [4]. Through a rational design approach combining polymer network crosslinking, novel ionic liquid incorporation, and functional additive integration, the engineered GPEs achieve an electrochemical stability window exceeding 3.0 V while maintaining superior mechanical durability and safety. Ultimately, this research provides key insights into the fundamental performance of high-voltage laser-induced graphene (LIG) and ionogel micro-supercapacitors (MSCs), establishing design principles to accelerate the development of future flexible and wearable electronics. References: 1. Chao Lu et al. Acc. Chem. Res. 2020, 53, 1468−1477. 2. Ana Isabel Ribeiro et al. Gels 2025, 11, 392 3. Neeraj Kumar et al. J. Mater. Chem. A, 2026, 14,14670 4. GRAPHERGIA – Powering the Future with Graphene