Flexible Thin‐Film Heater Composed of Laser‐Induced Graphene and Poly(D, L‐Lactic Acid) with Electro‐ and Photo‐Thermal Properties toward Cancer Thermotherapy

Abstract

Abstract Soft robotic devices use heat energy widely as both a power source and a functional interface. In addition, soft robots are expected to be applicable in medical and healthcare settings because of their flexibility and biocompatibility. If a small, flexible device that can generate thermal energy is developed, this device is expected to be applied as a wearable, implantable soft robotic device. This study introduces a thin‐film‐type heat‐generating device that uses laser‐induced graphene (LIG) on a poly(D, L‐lactic) acid film and achieves both resistance heating by application of a direct current and photothermal conversion heating by irradiation with near‐infrared light. This LIG and poly(D, L‐lactic) acid composite device is composed of a thin film structure with a thickness of ≈120 µm, and in addition to a simple heating method based on the application of a direct current‐type voltage, the device can also be heated by irradiating it with near‐infrared light, regardless of the LIG design. In addition, because this device offers a high degree of design freedom, it is expected to be used as a flexible and biocompatible composite heating element.