Flexible environment-tolerant electroluminescent devices based on nanocellulose-mediated transparent electrodes

Haoyu Sun; Ya Lu; Yuanyuan Chen; Yiying Yue; Shaohua Jiang; Xinwu Xu; Changtong Mei; Huining Xiao; Jingquan Han

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119891

Flexible environment-tolerant electroluminescent devices based on nanocellulose-mediated transparent electrodes

Carbohydr Polym. 2022 Nov 15:296:119891. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119891. Epub 2022 Jul 21.

Authors

Haoyu Sun¹, Ya Lu¹, Yuanyuan Chen¹, Yiying Yue², Shaohua Jiang¹, Xinwu Xu¹, Changtong Mei¹, Huining Xiao³, Jingquan Han⁴

Affiliations

¹ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Joint International Research Lab of Lignocellulosic Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
² College of Biology and Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: yue@njfu.edu.cn.
³ Chemical Engineering Department, New Brunswick University, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada.
⁴ Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, Joint International Research Lab of Lignocellulosic Functional Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China. Electronic address: hjq@njfu.edu.cn.

PMID: 36087966
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2022.119891

Abstract

Stretchable electroluminescent (EL) devices show great potential for wearable displays. However, the integration of stretchability, flexibility, temperature-tolerance, waterproofness and biocompatibility into a single EL device remains a challenge. Herein, we report a facile full solution-process method for a novel EL device consisting of a dielectric luminescent layer sandwiched between two silver nanowires-cellulose nanocrystals with II crystalline allomorphs/polydopamine-polydimethylsiloxane (CNC II-AgNWs/PDA-PDMS) electrodes. CNC II is used as a green dispersant, film-forming agent and antioxidant to improve the optical, electrical, mechanical and antioxidant properties of the electrodes. The electrodes exhibit a smooth surface, low sheet resistance (~11 Ω sq^-1), high transparency (~79.2 %), ideal stretchability (~100 % strain) and excellent inoxidizability. The assembled EL devices with outstanding tensile stability and fatigue resistance demonstrate excellent luminance, flexibility and stretchability underwater and at extreme temperatures, as well as intrinsic biocompatibility. Our multifunctional EL devices with outstanding integrated properties provide new insights for the next-generation flexible electronics.

Keywords: Flexible electroluminescent devices; Nanocellulose; Polydimethylsiloxane; Polydopamine; Silver nanowires.

MeSH terms

Antioxidants
Electrodes
Electronics
Nanowires* / chemistry
Silver

Substances

Antioxidants
Silver