Fully biodegradable printed electronic sensors based on biomass-derived graphene inks and agripapers
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: While printed electronic sensors present significant opportunities for the Internet of Things (IoT), industrial-scale production of these devices also raises numerous environmental concerns, including electronic waste generation and critical mineral depletion. Here, we circumvent these issues by demonstrating high-performance biodegradable printed electronic sensors based exclusively on agripaper substrates and graphene inks sourced from biomass. The agripaper substrate is produced from miscanthus and hemp, which are hardy, drought-tolerant agricultural crops. Meanwhile, the sensing layer is composed of cellulose nanocrystals derived from miscanthus, and graphene nanoplatelets derived from hardwood biochar. These plant-based printing materials are renewable, biodegradable, and readily processable at scale. The resulting printed electronic sensors exhibit superlative humidity sensitivity, showing a relative resistance change of 2.6 over a humidity range of 35–85% RH with response and recovery times of ~1 second and ~4 seconds, respectively. These sensors also perform well under humidity cycling and possess minimal confounding temperature dependence, outperforming traditional devices based on plastic substrates and metallic inks. By utilizing biomass for all raw materials, this additive manufacturing methodology is sustainable, minimizes supply chain risks, and provides an enabling step towards a circular bioeconomy.
Source: npj Advanced Manufacturing
Language: English
Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
Funders: National Science Foundation, Northwestern University, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Harvard University, International Institute for Nanotechnology, Northwestern University, Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, Northwestern University, Division of Materials Research, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation, Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems
Awards: NNCI: Soft Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, G1493146263, G1615959824, G1959162771, G2233802770, G2248407278, G2343375527, G2540632084, G3010471893, G3203750490, Northwestern University Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, G4958141111, FMRG: Manufacturing ADvanced Electronics through Printing Using Bio-based and Locally Identifiable Compounds (MADE-PUBLIC), G5721286766, G6540817556
OpenAlex ID: W7125968764