Supramolecular Self-assembly of 3D Conductive Cellulose Nanofiber Aerogels for Flexible Supercapacitors and Ultrasensitive Sensors
writer：Duan-Chao Wang, Hou-Yong Yu, Dongming Qi, Mohankandhasamy Ramasamy, Juming Yao, Feng Tang, Kam (Mich
keywords：Supramolecular self-assembly; cellulose nanofiber aerogels; polyaniline; supercapacitors; sensors
source：期刊
Issue time：2019年
Nature employs supramolecular self-assembly to organize many molecularly complex structures. Based on this, we now report for the first time the supramolecular self-assembly of 3D lightweight nanocellulose aerogels using carboxylated ginger cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and polyaniline (PANI) in green aqueous medium. A possible supramolecular self-assembly of the 3D conductive supramolecular aerogel (SA) was provided, which also possessed mechanical flexibility, shape recovery capabilities and porous networked microstructure to support the conductive PANI chains. The lightweight conductive SA with hierarchically porous 3D structures (porosity of 96.90 %) exhibited high conductivity of 0.372 mS/cm, and a larger area normalized capacitance (Cs) of 59.26 mF/cm2, 20 times higher than other 3D chemically crosslinked nanocellulose aerogels, fast charge-discharge performance and excellent capacitance retention. By combining the flexible SA solid electrolyte with low-cost non-woven polypropylene (PP) and PVA/H2SO4 yielded a high normalized capacitance (Cm) of 201.91 F/g, without the use of adhesive that was typically required for flexible energy storage devices. Furthermore, the supramolecular conductive aerogel could be used as a universal sensitive sensor for toxic gas, Field Sobriety Tests (FSTs), and health monitoring device, by utilizing the electrode material in lightweight supercapacitor and wearable flexible devices.