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TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose Handsheet with Low and Adjustable Relative Permittivity for Superior Printed Electronic
Fukun Niu1, Jiafei Wu1, Ru Song2
1State Key Laboratory of Advanced Glass Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|November 14, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed eco-friendly paper-based radio frequency substrates for the Internet of Things (IoT). These low dielectric materials offer tunable low-k properties and good printability, suitable for disposable Sub-6 GHz applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- The Internet of Things (IoT) requires advanced wireless communication technologies.
- High-frequency applications necessitate cost-effective, environmentally friendly low dielectric radio frequency substrates.
- Cellulose-based paper, with its inherent porosity, shows potential for low relative permittivity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel, low-cost, and disposable radio frequency substrates from cellulose.
- To tailor the dielectric properties of paper-based materials for Sub-6 GHz applications.
- To investigate the impact of cellulose modification on material performance and printability.
Main Methods:
- TEMPO-mediated oxidation was used to improve cellulose pulp dispersibility.
- Handsheets were fabricated via vacuum filtration and hot-press drying.
- The oxidation degree was controlled to tune porosity and relative permittivity.
Main Results:
- Oxidized cellulose fibers formed strong interactions, enabling low forming pressure (~1.2 kPa) handsheets with good tensile strength.
- Relative permittivity was tunable between low-k (~3) and ultra-low-k (~2) by adjusting oxidation and blending/stacking methods.
- Handsheets exhibited a compact bottom surface suitable for printing and were printable with silver patterns.
Conclusions:
- Modified cellulose paper serves as a competitive, low-cost, and disposable substrate for Sub-6 GHz printed electronics.
- The developed material is suitable for eco-friendly IoT applications, with options for incineration or redispersion disposal.
- The tunable dielectric properties and printability meet the demands for next-generation wireless communication substrates.
