Stretchable copper-nanocellulose paper heater

• Published in: Applied materials today 2023-04, Vol.31, p.101740, Article 101740
• Main Authors: Li, Zheng, Islam, Abdullah, Luigi, Massimigliano Di, Huang, Yulong, Ren, Shenqiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conformal electronics; Electro-thermal; Kirigami; Nanocellulose; Structure engineering
• ISSN: 2352-9407; 2352-9415
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmt.2023.101740

•Flexible nanocellulose based materials exhibit a low thermal conductivity.•Conformal copper-nanocellulose electronics regulate electro-thermal performance.•Paper heater electronics manage thermal and electromagnetic radiation.•Paper-based electronics achieve mechanical stretchability and environmental sustainability. Conformal paper heater electronics manage thermal and electromagnetic radiation while achieving mechanical stretchability and environmental sustainability. Here we report conformal copper-nanocellulose electronics ranging from stretchable Joule heating to electromagnetic shielding devices, regulate electro-thermal performance using printed copper conductive features and superinsulation nanocellulose paper. Flexible nanocellulose based materials exhibit a low thermal conductivity of 15 mW/mK and high thermal resistance below 250 °C, while printed copper traces show a low driving voltage from 0.15 V (37.2 °C) to 0.35 V (88.7 °C) with 99.9% electromagnetic shielding effectiveness. The copper-nanocellulose electronics shown here provide a pathway towards the applications in disposable and low-resource environments.