Molecular design and structural optimization of nanocellulose-based films fabricated via regioselective functionalization for flexible electronics

Nanocellulose backbones highly regioselectively substituted with thiophene and long fatty acid side chains were synthesized via a protecting group strategy. The presence of long-chain pendants balanced the torsional conformations of the nanocellulose backbone caused by large thiophene molecules on the nanostructured substrate, imparting enhanced electrical conductivity to the nanomaterial. The formation of a percolation network provided a …