Conductive Cellulose Composite With Protein Binder for Flexible Electronics
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Solution Overview
Problem
The rapid obsolescence of electronic devices leads to significant environmental issues due to non-biodegradable components, and there is a need for sustainable, flexible, and conductive materials for emerging applications like wearable electronics and IoT, where existing solutions often rely on metal-based conductive nanoparticles without binders, causing adhesion problems.
Innovation Solution
A cellulose-based composite material is developed by dissolving plant-derived proteins and aleuritic acid, dispersing conductive materials like graphene nanoplatelets, and hot-pressing the mixture onto a cellulose substrate to create a conductive ink, which is then impregnated and polymerized, resulting in a flexible, biodegradable, and conductive material suitable for various electronic applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal-based conductive nanoparticles are used without binders, then electrical conductivity is achieved, but adhesion problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs plant-derived proteins as intermediary binder materials between conductive nanoparticles and the substrate. These proteins serve as a mediating layer that enhances adhesion while maintaining biodegradability, resolving the contradiction between achieving good adhesion and avoiding complex material compositions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates composite materials combining plant-derived proteins with conductive nanoparticles. This composite approach allows the system to achieve both good adhesion properties and electrical conductivity while remaining biodegradable, thus resolving the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If non-biodegradable electronic components are used, then device performance and durability are improved, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of electronic components by using biodegradable plant-derived materials instead of traditional non-biodegradable materials. This parameter change allows the material to maintain functional performance while acquiring biodegradability, thus reducing environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables electronic components to be properly discarded through biodegradation. The plant-derived protein-based materials can naturally decompose after use, eliminating the need for complex recycling processes and reducing environmental pollution from electronic waste.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid inorganic materials are used for electronic components, then structural stability is improved, but flexibility and conformability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs plant-derived protein-based materials that can be processed into flexible thin films and shells. These flexible structures maintain adequate structural stability while enabling conformability and adaptability, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and flexibility.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If plant-derived materials are used, then biodegradability and flexibility are improved, but mechanical strength and durability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite materials where plant-derived proteins are combined with conductive nanoparticles. This composite structure provides mechanical reinforcement to the biodegradable protein matrix, improving mechanical strength and durability while maintaining biodegradability and flexibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cellulose-based composite material achieves enhanced mechanical properties, biodegradability, and efficient EMI shielding, making it suitable for flexible electronics, antennas, and photovoltaics, while avoiding the use of plasticizers and ensuring environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
hot-pressing the mixture onto a cellulose substrate to create a conductive ink, which is then impregnated and polymerized
Implementation Method 2
dispersing an electrically conductive material in said first mixture to achieve a conductive ink... polymerization of aleuritic acid
Data Source
AI summary
Cellulose-based composite material comprising an electrically conductive material dispersed in a matrix comprising at least one plant-derived protein and a polymer of aleuritic acid, said composite material being obtainable by a process comprising the steps of dissolving at least one plant-derived protein and aleuritic acid in a dissolving solution to achieve a first mixture, dispersing an electrically conductive material in said first mixture to achieve a conductive ink, distributing said conductive ink on at least one side of a cellulose substrate to achieve a coated cellulose substrate, hot-pressing said coated cellulose substrate to obtain i) impregnation of the cellulose substrate with said conductive ink and ii) polymerization of aleuritic acid.