Nanocellulose-based electrodes and separator toward sustainable and flexible all-solid-state supercapacitor

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Nanocellulose is a sustainable, biodegradable nanomaterial with excellent properties, suitable for flexible electronics.
• Flexible electrochemical energy storage devices require advanced materials for improved performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare a reduced graphene oxide (RGO)/cellulose nanocrystal/cellulose nanofiber (RCC) composite membrane.
• To evaluate the performance of the RCC composite membrane in flexible all-solid-state supercapacitors (FASCs).

Main Methods:

• A one-pot method was employed to synthesize the RCC composite membrane.
• The RCC composite membrane was characterized for mechanical properties and hydrophilicity.
• A symmetric FASC was constructed using RCC composite membranes as electrodes and a cellulose nanofiber membrane as a separator.

Main Results:

• The RCC composite membrane showed improved mechanical properties and hydrophilicity compared to pure RGO membranes.
• The RCC composite membrane achieved a specific capacitance of 171.3 F·cm⁻³.
• The fabricated FASC exhibited a high volumetric specific capacitance of 164.3 F·cm⁻³ and an energy density of 3.7 mW·h·cm⁻³.

Conclusions:

• The synergistic effect of nanocellulose and RGO enhances the electrochemical performance of the composite membrane.
• The developed nanocellulose-based FASC demonstrates superior performance compared to previously reported devices.
• This study presents a promising pathway for designing sustainable and flexible energy storage devices.