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Biobased Electronics: Tunable Dielectric and Piezoelectric Cellulose Nanocrystal-Protein Films
Daniel Voignac1,2, Shylee Belsey1, Elisabeth Wermter3
1Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment and Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 12, 2023
Summary
Researchers developed sustainable dielectric thin films using cellulose nanocrystals and proteins. These green materials offer a renewable alternative for energy storage devices like capacitors.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Sustainable Energy
Background:
- Cellulose is a traditional dielectric material for capacitors.
- Current energy storage solutions often rely on non-renewable fossil and mined resources.
- There is a growing demand for sustainable and degradable energy storage materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a sustainable and green method for producing dielectric thin films.
- To explore the use of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and proteins for enhanced dielectric properties.
- To fabricate flexible, sustainable, and degradable capacitors.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of thin films using cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and various protein sources via evaporation-induced self-assembly.
- Dispersion of proteins within a CNC matrix to tune dielectric permittivity.
- Incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNT) to create electrically conductive CNC films.
- Characterization of film properties: electrical, mechanical, piezoelectric, and optical.
Main Results:
- Achieved tunable dielectric permittivity (ε = 4 to 50) by varying protein sources, additives, and concentrations.
- Created nano-layered structures with high specific surface areas suitable for energy storage.
- Developed electrically conductive CNC-CNT composite films (σ = 1.53 × 10³ S/m).
- Successfully fabricated flexible, sustainable, and degradable capacitors using the developed films.
Conclusions:
- Cellulose nanocrystals and proteins offer a viable pathway for creating sustainable dielectric materials.
- The developed films exhibit promising properties for advanced energy storage applications.
- This approach provides a green alternative to conventional materials in capacitor technology.
