Stacked-Cup Carbon Nanotube Flexible Paper Based on Soy Lecithin and Natural Rubber

Abstract

Stacked-cup carbon nanotubes (SCCNTs) are generally referred to as carbon nanofibers (CNFs). SCCNTs are much less expensive to fabricate and are regarded as good polymer modifiers suitable for large-scale production. Flexible, SCCNT-based soy lecithin biocomposites were fabricated using liquid natural rubber latex as binder. Natural polymers and the SCCNTs were dispersed in a green solvent using a benchtop high-pressure homogenizer. The inks were simply brush-on painted onto cellulose fiber networks and compacted by a hydraulic press so as to transform into conductive paper-like form. The resulting flexible SCCNT papers demonstrated excellent resistance against severe folding and bending tests, with volume resistivity of about 85 Ω·cm at 20 wt % SCCNT loading. The solvent enabled formation of hydrogen bonding between natural rubber and soy lecithin. Thermomechanical measurements indicated that the biocomposites have good stability below and above glass transition points. Moreover, the SCCNT biocomposites had high through-plane thermal conductivity of 5 W/mK and 2000 kJ/m3K volumetric heat capacity, ideal for thermal interface heat transfer applications.

Sustainable Macromolecular Materials in Flexible Electronics

“…Additionally, natural rubber has been used in making nanocomposites for producing carbon nanotube-based flexible paper components. [282] In 2017, Natarajan et al published their work on natural rubber-based carbon nanotube and carbon black composites for application in strong strain sensors (Figure 9d). [283] In this study, though carbon nanotubes and other compounding ingredients were added as alcohol-based solutions, carbon black was added into the NR during mastication.…”

“…Additionally, natural rubber has been used in making nanocomposites for producing carbon nanotube‐based flexible paper components. [ 282 ] In 2017, Natarajan et al. published their work on natural rubber‐based carbon nanotube and carbon black composites for application in strong strain sensors (Figure 9d).…”

Green Approaches to Carbon Nanostructure-Based Biomaterials

“…When dispersed with Triton within a glycol-chitosan hydrogel, CNTs promoted cell migration and recruitment, with potential applications in wound healing [189]. Conductive composites for potential applications in sensing were obtained by mixing CNTs with soy lecithin, natural rubber, and the green solvent methyl isobutyl ketone in a homogenizer at high pressure [190].…”

Flexible hematite (α-Fe2O3)-graphene nanoplatelet (GnP) hybrids with high thermal conductivity

“…Even though single layer graphene has excellent thermal conductivity of about 5300 W/m K [45], outperforming other nanocarbon materials [50], the GnPs are more like graphite flakes with much lower thermal conductivity [51,52]. With proper dispersion, alignment and using specific polymer matrices that can tolerate large concertation of GnPs without compromising flexibility and workability, conformal TIM films or coatings can be produced with thermal conductivities approaching 10 W/mK [53][54][55].…”