Smart nanopaper based on cellulose nanofibers with hybrid PEDOT:PSS/polypyrrole for energy storage devices

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 165; pp. 86 - 95
• Main Authors: Lay, Makara, Pèlach, M. Àngels, Pellicer, Neus, Tarrés, Joaquim A., Bun, Kim Ngun, Vilaseca, Fabiola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2017
• Subjects: Cellulose nanofibers; Electrical conductivity; Flexible electronics; PEDOT:PSS; Polypyrrole; Specific capacitance; Specific capacitance; Electrical conductivity; Flexible electronics; Polypyrrole; Cellulose nanofibers; PEDOT:PSS
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.02.043

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•Homogeneous coting of PEDOT:PSS on cellulose nanofibers.•Cooperation between PEDOT:PSS and PPy improve thermal and electrical properties.•Cellulose nanopaper of 10.55Scm−1 conductivity and 315Fg−1 specific capacitance.•Smart conductive cellulose nanopaper for energy storage devices.
In the current work, flexible, lightweight, and strong conductive nanopapers based on cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and/or polypyrrole (PPy) were prepared by following a mixing and in situ chemical polymerization method. A successful homogeneous coating of PEDOT:PSS on cellulose nanofibers occurred by means hydrogen-bonding interactions between the hydroxyl functionalized CNF and the electronically charged PEDOT:PSS, as shown by FTIR spectra. The electrical conductivity and the specific capacitance of CNF-PEDOT:PSS nanopapers were 2.58Scm−1 and 6.21Fg−1, respectively. Further coating of PPy produced a substantial improvement on the electrical conductivity (10.55Scm−1) and the specific capacitance (315.5Fg−1) of the resulting CNF-PEDOT:PSS-PPy nanopaper. A synergistic phenomenon between both conductive polymers supported the high electrical conductivity and specific capacitance of the ternary formulation. Moreover, CNF-PEDOT:PSS-PPy nanopaper showed higher mechanical properties and it was more flexible than the nanopaper containing only polypyrrole conducting polymer (CNF-PPy). It is concluded that the good mechanical, electrical and electrochemical properties of the ternary formulation can apply for smart nanopaper in flexible electronics and energy storage devices.