In-situ synthesized polypyrrole-cellulose conductive networks for potential-tunable foldable power paper

Abstract

Flexible electronics with features of simple, low-cost, lightweight, recyclable, easily operable, and disposable are particularly desirable. Herein, a flexible fully-integrated self-powered system on paper was demonstrated by incorporating addressable paper circuit switch into potential-tunable foldable power paper. In which the electrode material as well as conducting interconnections, p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA) doped polypyrrole embedded in-between the cellulose fibers (p-TSA-PPy/cellulose) were obtained by combining in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization with paper microfluidic technique. In such unique integrated configuration, the utilization of p-TSA-PPy/cellulose network not only dramatically enhanced the horizontal electrical conductivity, but also conquered the issue of vertical electroconductivity, allowing for the top-channel-bottom conductive interconnections. As a proof-of-concept, an all-paper microfluidic analytical platform that integrated paper-based electrochemiluminescence strategy and proposed power paper was constructed with comparable performance. This work greatly improves the understandings of all-paper-based self-powered systems, and presents the significant potential applications of paper-based flexible electronics.