P. Kang, B.G. Kim, G.M. Harper, A. Kabli, H. Kim
George Mason University,
United States
Keywords: laser-induced graphene, plasmonic nanocomposites, photodetectors, laser processing, nanoparticle synthesis, sustainable manufacturing
Summary:
Laser-based manufacturing provides a powerful platform for scalable synthesis and integration of plasmonic nanomaterials into functional device architectures. This work presents a laser-induced graphene (LIG) process for the direct, solvent-free fabrication of graphene–plasmonic nanoparticle composites tailored for photonic and optoelectronic applications. By precisely tuning laser fluence and ambient environment, we achieve in situ reduction, nucleation, and spatial confinement of gold and silver nanoparticles within a porous graphene matrix. The resulting hybrid nanostructure exhibits strong plasmonic coupling and enhanced light–matter interaction, enabling broadband photoresponse and improved carrier transport. Spectroscopic and microscopic analyses reveal that laser-driven nonequilibrium transformations control nanoparticle size distribution, interfacial bonding, and defect density—key parameters for plasmonic resonance tuning and photocarrier generation. The approach demonstrates a digitally programmable, high-throughput route for manufacturing plasmonic-enhanced photosensors, offering a sustainable alternative to multi-step chemical synthesis while bridging materials design, laser processing, and device performance for next-generation optoelectronics.