Pencil Transfer of Graphene Nanoplatelets on Paper Substrates: Example of Foldable Electronics

In the past years, thanks to the availability of new advanced high performance materials, printable and environmental friendly electronic has led to the rapid development of miniaturized electronic devices. These devices could be integrated on substrates in order to facilitate both the manufacturing process and portability. Historically, in electronic the use of passive plastic materials as acrylic and epoxy resins has prevailed; however these materials cannot longer be promoted by eco-sustainability as they are unlikely recyclable and non-reusable at their end-of-life. In order to develop new electronic devices, it is therefore necessary to find innovative solutions to the eco-sustainability problem of materials as substrates for circuits. In this context, the work here presented aims to explore the potential use of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) on paper. In literature there are relatively few studies on GNPs transferred on biodegradable paper substrates and the references dealing with GNPs on cellulose for flexible and eco-friendly electronic are still less present. The development of these circuits is therefore extremely interesting from an applicative point of view. Combining the miniaturization, and therefore the minimal impact of the electronic component, with a plant derivative and renewable fully biodegradable polymer matrix used as support, these systems may be used for the development of eco-compatible, eco-sustainable and low environmental impact devices.