Cellulose‐Based Sustainable Composites: A Review of Systems for Applications in EMI Shielding and Sensors

Abstract

AbstractAdvanced functional materials that are highly efficient in shielding electromagnetic radiation and sensing applications are primarily lightweight polymeric materials. In recent years, several research works on the development of polymer‐based sensors and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials have been reported. Cellulosic materials are extensively investigated for fabricating EMI shielding gadgets and sensors. Cellulose is a naturally abundant renewable polymeric material, and the EMI shielding, and sensing performances of cellulose‐based materials depend on their conductive network architecture. Incorporating conducting nanofillers can improve the conductivity of the cellulose matrix in composites. However, a comprehensive understanding of the electrical response of nanofillers in cellulose‐based composites is necessary for the design of EMI shielding materials and sensor devices. Therefore, this work provides a critical overview of the types of processing methods used, an insight into the effects of incorporating conductive nanofillers on the architectural structure of cellulose, and the obtained shielding and sensing properties of the cellulose‐based composites. This article is expected to provide guidelines for developing sustainable polymer materials for advanced applications in the future.