Boosting through-plane electrical conductivity: chitosan composite films with carbon-sepiolite and multiwalled carbon nanotubes
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Flexible and electrically conductive materials are gaining significant attention across various domains, notably in electronics, biomedicine and food industry. One promising strategy involves the integration of electrically conductive nanostructures into a polymeric matrix to fabricate composite materials. However, achieving uniform through-plane electrical conductivity remains a challenge due to the preferential alignment of carbon nanostructures in the in-plane direction. Herein, we report the development of electrically conductive chitosan (CS)-based biocomposite films incorporating a multicomponent filler system. By combining carbon supported on sepiolite clay (CARSEP) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), it is aimed to facilitate an interconnected distribution in both in-plane and through-plane directions. The optimized film, featuring a CS/CARSEP/MWCNT mass ratio of 50/40/10, exhibited a maximum electrical conductivity of 55.5 S/m and 0.1 S/m in the in-plane and through-plane directions, respectively. Additionally, migration studies demonstrated the absence of harmful compounds upon heating the film up to 60 °C in air, ethanol, or hexane. These findings highlight the potential of these flexible and electrically conductive biocomposite films, primarily composed of biobased materials, for applications requiring through-plane electrical conductivity.
Source: Carbon
Authors: Ana Barra, Nuno M. Ferreira, Fátima Poças, Eduardo Ruiz-Hitzky, Cláudia Nunes, Paula Ferreira
Language: English
Subfield: Materials Chemistry
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,560
OpenAlex ID: W4403266056