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

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