Rational Design of a Novel Highly Folding-tolerable Edgewo-rthia Chrysantha Lindi-derived Substrate for Versatile Flexible Pressure Sensors

Abstract Cellulose-based composites with superior mechanical and electrical properties are highly desirable for a sustainable and multifunctional substrate of flexible electronics. However, their practical application is hindered by the lack of superflexible cellulose-based composites to fabricate ingenious flexible electronics with considerable robustness. Here, cellulose derived from underutilized biomass (Edgewo-rthia chrysantha Lindi, ERCL) was composited with highly-conductive silver nanowires (AgNWs) through a general papermaking process. Benefiting from the interactions between cellulose and AgNWs including hydrogen bonding and van der Waals force, the composite presented superb electrical conductivity (> 27000 S/m) and flexibility (folding times ≥1110). By employing it as the substrate of flexible pressure sensors (FPSs) through layer-by-layer assembly, improved sensitivity (Gauge Factor=846.4), rapid response (0.44 s), and excellent stability (≥2000 folding cycles) were demonstrated. Impressively, the novel FPS could monitor human motions, including finger bending, elbow flexion, speaking, and pulse, suggesting its great potentials in emerging flexible electronics.