Work

Development of Green Lignin–MWCNTs Hybrids for Sustainable Conductive Materials

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The increasing environmental impact of electronic waste has intensified the pursuit of sustainable materials for manufacturing green electronics. This study presents the development of lignin-based hybrids with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) via an environmentally friendly ultrasonication process in aqueous medium. Two hybrid materials containing 10 and 20 wt% MWCNTs were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. DLS analysis revealed better dispersion and colloidal stability due to strong physicochemical interactions between lignin and MWCNTs, while SEM and TEM images confirmed a continuous lignin matrix embedding an interconnected MWCNT network. Raman spectroscopy indicated structural ordering within the hybrids. The electrical conductivity of the hybrids reached 2–5 S/cm as evaluated by four-point probe measurements, despite the high lignin content (80–90 wt%). Electrochemical analysis suggested significantly enhanced redox activity and electron transfer kinetics, with measured electroactive surface areas increasing up to 21-fold larger compared with the unmodified electrode. The synergy between lignin and MWCNTs enabled the formation of a conductive network, highlighting these hybrids as promising, cost-effective, and sustainable materials for conductive and electrochemical applications in next-generation green electronics.

Source: Electronics

DOI: 10.3390/electronics14224539