Facile fabrication of electrically conductive graphitic cellufoil for lighting and energy devices

A highly conductive flexible cellufoil composite was fabricated from cellulose nanofiber (CNF) and graphene nanoplatelets (GPs) through facile and low-cost papermaking process. The electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of cellufoil were highly dependent on cellulose to graphite ratio. The electrical conductivity of 219 S/m was found at CNF/GPs ratio of 1:25. While the enhancement of electrical conductivity of cellufoil was attained with increasing the graphite content, the mechanical properties of cellufoil was sacrificed. The SEM images confirmed the formation of thin 2D-coating of nanolayered graphitic structure on the surface of cellulose nanofibers with coating thickness below 25 nm. The ATR-FTIR confirmed that the intensity of the typical reflection bands of cellulose (C–O stretching at 1047 cm−1 and O–H stretching at 3300 cm−1) declined by increasing the graphite content. This work, as a result, provides scalable, potentially low-cost, eco-friendly and disposable conductive cellufoils for production of high-performance and recyclable energy devices and sensors.