Flexible and transparent cellulose-based electrothermal composites for high-performance heaters

With the increase in demand for low-carbon technology, green raw materials, and comfortable heating, academia and industry have paid considerable attention to cellulose-based electrothermal composites. This attention owes to the fact that cellulose is a versatile, abundant, low-cost, and sustainable material with beneficial properties. Here, we develop a novel strategy for fabricating flexible, transparent electrothermal heaters that are composed of both silver nanowire (AgNW)/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) electrothermal composites and a regenerated cellulose (RC) matrix. The AgNWs were spin-coated onto glass substrates and easily transferred onto an RC surface through the coagulation and regeneration of the cellulose solution. PEDOT:PSS was coated onto the AgNW-coated RC matrix to improve the electrical and electrothermal properties of the film heaters. The PEDOT:PSS/AgNW/RC composite films demonstrated an excellent optical transmittance of 73.8% at 550 nm and a low sheet resistance of 11.2 Omega/sq. These composite heaters also exhibited a rapid heating response, uniform heat distribution, excellent heat generation, and robust structural stability. These electrothermal composites made from earth-abundant, low cost, and recyclable materials have great potential for green, flexible, transparent film heaters.

Automated summary

Cellulose-based electrothermal composites have attracted considerable attention from academia and industry due to their versatility, abundance, low cost, and sustainability. In this study, a novel strategy for fabricating flexible, transparent electrothermal heaters was developed using silver nanowire/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) electrothermal composites and a regenerated cellulose matrix. The resulting composite films demonstrated excellent optical transmittance, low sheet resistance, rapid heating response, uniform heat distribution, and structural stability, making them ideal for green, flexible, transparent film heaters.