Laser engineering of carbon materials for optoelectronic applications

Nowadays, optoelectronic and display devices are deeply rooted in our all-day life. With the emerging and growing of new communication technologies, connected devices, Internet of Things, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and smart objects, the use of optoelectronic devices achieves high marks. What all these screen devices have in common is the necessity to transport electric current through the surface of the screen without interfering with the emitted light. To achieve this aim, transparent conductive oxides are currently used as electrodes, whether in display devices such as liquid crystal touch screens, OLED, or in certain photovoltaic cells. The most commonly used electrodes are based on the ITO that offers very interesting performances by owning high transparency in the visible range and high electrical conductivity. Finding a reliable alternative to this transparent conductive oxide with suitable performances appears to be a key point for present and future generations of displays and optoelectronic devices. In all this alternatives solution to ITO, we also have to seriously consider graphene or graphene-like thin films. We propose a solution only based on laser processes and pure carbon. This approach appears to be a serious alternative to more standard technologies. Laser processing offers many advantages like generating low process cost (compared to heavier deposition and treatment technologies), being scalable over large surfaces and being applicable on various substrates, and offering a compatibility with standard microelectronic processes.