Fabrication of Surface Embedded Silver Cellulose-based Flexible Transparent Electrodes by Self-Assembly

Authors

  • Wentao Zhang Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Tianhao Wang Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Ying Zhu Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Yanan Gao Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Lin Liu Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Mengling Li Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
  • Liping Zhang Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, MOE Engineering Research Center of Forestry Biomass Materials and Energy, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China

Keywords:

All-Cellulose, Flexible transparent electrodes, AgNWs, Mechanical Stability

Abstract

Developing eco-friendly, degradable, and flexible electronic devices using renewable cellulose, such as waste agricultural straw, is increasingly vital. This approach tackles the growing issue of nondegradable electronic waste. In this study, flexible transparent electrodes (FTEs) were created using cellulose from waste corn straw, embedding silver nanowires (AgNWs) networks within the surface layer. This method is suitable for reel-to-reel processing. These sustainable FTEs had high transparency and conductivity, with a film resistance of 45.4 Ω/sq and light transmittance of 86.2% at 550 nm. The "dissolution–regeneration" self-assembly process harnesses cellulose's hydrogen bond network to stabilize the AgNWs network, providing the FTEs with excellent electromechanical stability. Resistance changes were less than 3% during bending, folding, and 1,000-time cyclic bending tests. Furthermore, these electrodes showed remarkable environmental stability, with only a 2.5% resistance increase after 16 days at room temperature. This research demonstrates a new application for agricultural straw cellulose in flexible electronics, offering a sustainable alternative in electronic materials.

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Published

2024-01-22

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2024)

Section

Research Article or Brief Communication