Transient Starch-Based Nanocomposites for Sustainable Electronics and Multifunctional Sensing

Developing materials for electronics and sensing based on abundant and degradable materials is fundamental for transitioning both fields toward a more sustainable future. In the long run, this approach can unleash these fields from using petroleum-derived and/or scarce resources, possibly facilitating electronic waste (e-waste) management at the same time. Starch, one of the most abundant and versatile natural polymers, has shown great potential in the fabrication of degradable/transient devices. In this work, electrically conductive and mechanically robust starch-Ti3C2Tx MXene nanocomposites are successfully engineered, offering a promising advancement in sustainable electronics. The nanocomposite films exhibit remarkable tunability with varying MXene concentrations (from 0.69 to 2.42 vol%), allowing precise control over their properties. This tunability enables modifications in tensile strength (from 6.4 to 11.2 MPa), electrical conductivity (from 2.31 x 10(-)(3) to 3.98 S m(-1)), and gauge factor. Such characteristics make these films ideal for various applications, including body movement monitoring, tactile sensing, handwriting recognition, and electronic smart skin. Unlike their petroleum-based counterparts, the starch-based films demonstrate significant biodegradability, breaking down within a month after being buried in soil. This rapid degradation highlights the potential of these transient composites for various electronics applications, offering an environmentally friendly alternative.