Flexible Grid Graphene Electrothermal Films for Real-Time Monitoring Applications

Flexible electrothermal films are crucial for protecting equipment and systems in cold weather, such as ice blockages in natural gas pipelines and icing on aircraft wings. Therefore, a flexible electric heater is one of the essential devices in industrial operations. One of the main challenges is to develop flexible electrothermal films with low operating voltage, high steady-state temperature, and good mechanical stability. In this study, a flexible electrothermal film based on graphene-patterned structures was manufactured by combining the laser induction method and the transfer printing process. The grid structure design provides accurate real-time monitoring for the application of electrothermal films and shows potential in solving problems related to deicing and clearing ice blockages in pipelines. The flexible electrothermal film can reach a high heating temperature of 165 °C at 15 V and exhibits sufficient heating stability. By employing a simple and efficient method to create a flexible, high-performance electrothermal film, we provide a reliable solution for deicing and monitoring applications.