Molecular design and structural optimization of nanocellulose-based films fabricated via regioselective functionalization for flexible electronics

• Autor(a) principal: Dias, Otavio Augusto Titton
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Konar, Samir, Pakharenko, Viktoriya, Graziano, Antimo, Leão, Alcides Lopes [UNESP], Tjong, Jimi, Jaffer, Shaffiq, Cui, Teng, Filleter, Tobin, Sain, Mohini
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.135950; http://hdl.handle.net/11449/234302
• topic: Cellulose nanofibrils; Conductivity; Conformation; Molecular dynamics; Polythiophene; Regioselective modification; Thiophene

Nanocellulose backbones highly regioselectively substituted with thiophene and long fatty acid side chains were synthesized via a protecting group strategy. The presence of long-chain pendants balanced the torsional conformations of the nanocellulose backbone caused by large thiophene molecules on the nanostructured substrate, imparting enhanced electrical conductivity to the nanomaterial. The formation of a percolation network provided a conduction path and reinforcing effects enhancing energy transfer. The fabricated strong, flexible, and conductive regioselectively nanofibrillated cellulose-based films were demonstrated to be a potential alternative to conventional semiconductors. Optimization of the structure of nanocellulose backbones resulted in higher interaction between the active moieties and demonstrated higher electrical conductivity (279.10 μS/cm) when compared to randomly functionalized nanocellulose (65.05 μS/cm). The molecular design of the structures of nanocellulose may allow the fabrication of materials with consistent and reproducible properties. The well-defined architecture of functionalized nanostructures is an important step toward acceptance of nanocellulose as a bio- component in advanced materials.