Electroconductive cellulose nanocrystals - Synthesis, properties and applications: A review

Yebin Lee; Haoyu Zhang; Hou-Yong Yu; Kam C Tam

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119419

Electroconductive cellulose nanocrystals - Synthesis, properties and applications: A review

Carbohydr Polym. 2022 Aug 1:289:119419. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119419. Epub 2022 Mar 29.

Authors

Yebin Lee¹, Haoyu Zhang², Hou-Yong Yu³, Kam C Tam⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada.
² Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada.
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada; Key Laboratory of Advanced Textile Materials and Manufacturing Technology, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Xiasha Higher Education Park Avenue 2 No.928, Hangzhou 310018, China.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo N2L 3G1, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: mkctam@uwaterloo.ca.

PMID: 35483837
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119419

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the synthesis of electrically conductive cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) for advanced applications, such as supercapacitor, batteries, sensor, and printed electronics. CNC is recognized as an attractive template for the fabrication of functional nanomaterials. Since CNC possesses many attractive properties, it is a sustainable template to prepare conductive nanomaterials, by either coating it with a conductive material or transforming it into carbon nanorods. This review summarizes the utilization of a sustainable and low-cost CNC to produce conductive nanocomposites via an environmentally friendly process. Electroconductive CNCs with enhanced electrical properties, lower electrical percolation threshold, and better mechanical properties can be produced and are attractive systems for many new applications.

Keywords: Cellulose nanocrystal; Conductive ink; Conductive materials; Energy storage devices; Sensors; Sustainable.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Carbohydrate Metabolism
Cellulose / chemistry
Electric Conductivity
Nanocomposites* / chemistry
Nanoparticles* / chemistry

Substances

Cellulose