Flexible electrodes based on a zeolitic imidazolate framework and cellulose nanofibers composite: towards wearable energy storage (FLEXSTORE)

The progressive size diminution of electronic modules are undergoing bottlenecks in dwindling charge storage devices i.e., batteries and supercapacitors, constraining their development into wearable energy storage and flexible pollution free technologies. The inherent extended cycle life, rapid charge/discharge, and high power density of supercapacitors rank them superior over other energy storage systems. In modern market of zero-pollution energy devices, recently flexible and lightweight formula are trending to meet the current requirement of wearable energy storage. In this context, cellulose nanofiber (CNFs) incorporated zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF) as hybridization have the potential to meet this demand, as they are core of active electrode materials for flexible supercapacitors and texturally tailored to demonstrate flexible/foldable properties. Thus, the exploration of the ZIF on CNF as a multifunctional hybrid material will provide high surface area and dispersion stability, while demonstrating superior analytical performance. FLEXSTOR will elucidate: 1) uniform distribution of ZIF nanocrystals on interface of CNF as conductive electrode 2) the rational design of polymer solid-state gel electrolyte in form of flexible solid-state supercapacitor and 3) the enhanced charge storage performance withstanding the mechanical deformation. With these perspectives, FLEXSTOR will introduce flexible and lightweight active compounds for wearable energy storage devices.