Progress in Cellulose/Carbon Nanotube Composite Flexible Electrodes for Supercapacitors

Abstract

Nowadays, there is an increasing demand for wearable, portable and foldable small electronic products, and humancomputer interaction interface devices.Therefore, supercapacitors as energy storage devices were extensively studied owing to their high energy/power density, fast charge-discharge processes, and long cycle life.Wherein the flexible electrode material is the essential component to boost the performance of supercapacitors.Cellulose, as a kind of natural flexible material with low-cost, wide-sourced, renewable, and robust mechanical properties, has been used as a flexible substrate or template of electrodes.To enhance the conductivity and excellent electrochemical performance of the cellulose-based flexible electrode, the carbon nanotube (CNT) with high conductivity, good thermal and chemical stability, and a unique internal structure was integrated.Thereby, the cellulose/CNT-based flexible electrodes with high energy/power density and long cycle life performance of flexible supercapacitors are prepared.This review mainly focuses on cellulose/CNT, emphatically summarizing the composition, preparation, and mechanism of the cellulose/CNT-based composite flexible electrode for supercapacitors.Additionally, the current challenges and prospects of the cellulose/CNT-based composite flexible electrode are discussed.