In Situ Formation of Metal Oxide Nanocrystals Embedded in Laser-Induced Graphene

Hybrid materials incorporating the advantages of graphene and nanoparticles have been widely studied. Here we develop an improved cost-effective approach for preparation of porous graphene embedded with various types of nanoparticles. Direct laser scribing on metal-complex-containing polyimide film leads to in situ formation of nanoparticles embedded in porous graphene. These materials are highly active in electrochemical oxygen reduction reactions, converting O2 into OH–, with a low metal loading of less than 1 at. %. In addition, the nanoparticles can vary from metal oxide to metal dichalcogenides through lateral doping, making the composite active in other electrocatalytic reactions such as hydrogen evolution.