Pigment-Cellulose Nanofibril Composite and Its Application as a Separator-Substrate in Printed Supercapacitors

Abstract

Pigment-cellulose nanofibril (PCN) composites were manufactured<br/>in a pilot line and used as a separator-substrate in printed graphene<br/>and carbon nanotube supercapacitors. The composites consisted<br/>typically of 80% pigment and 20% cellulose nanofibrils (CNF).<br/>This composition makes them a cost-effective alternative as a<br/>substrate for printed electronics at high temperatures that only very<br/>special plastic films can nowadays stand. The properties of these<br/>substrates can be varied within a relatively large range by the<br/>selection of raw materials and their relative proportions. A semi-<br/>industrial scale pilot line was successfully used to produce smooth,<br/>flexible, and nanoporous composites, and their performance was<br/>tested in a double functional separator-substrate element in<br/>supercapacitors. The nanostructural carbon films printed on the<br/>composite worked simultaneously as high surface area active<br/>electrodes and current collectors. Low-cost supercapacitors made<br/>from environmentally friendly materials have significant potential<br/>for use in flexible, wearable, and disposable low-end products.