Application of nanocellulose in flexible display screens: opening a new era of display technology

With the rapid development of wearable devices, foldable mobile phones and flexible electronic products, flexible display screens have become an important research direction in the field of display technology. Traditional glass substrates are difficult to meet the flexibility requirements, and nano- cellulose , as a new bio-based material, has become an ideal candidate material for flexible display substrates due to its excellent mechanical properties, transparency and flexibility. This article will explore the application and potential of nanocellulose in flexible display screens, and demonstrate its performance advantages through digital table parameters.

Characteristics of nanocellulose and its advantages in flexible display screens

Nanocellulose is a nano-scale material extracted from natural cellulose, mainly divided into cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and bacterial cellulose (BC). Its application in flexible displays is due to the following features:

characteristic	Values/Description	Advantages
Light transmittance	More than 90%	High transparency, suitable as a display substrate
Tensile strength	200-300 MPa	High mechanical strength, providing reliable mechanical support
Young's modulus	10-20 GPa	High rigidity, suitable as a flexible substrate
Coefficient of thermal expansion	0.1-1 ppm/K	Low thermal expansion coefficient, high dimensional stability
Surface roughness	<10 nm	Low surface roughness, suitable for preparing electronic devices on it
density	1.5 g/cm³	Low density, reducing the weight of the display
Number of bendable times	>10,000 times (bending radius 1 mm)	High flexibility, suitable for folding and bending use scenarios
Biodegradability	Completely degradable	Environmentally friendly and sustainable, reducing environmental pollution of electronic waste

These properties make nanocellulose an ideal material to replace traditional glass and plastic substrates.

Application of nanocellulose in flexible display screens

1. Flexible substrate

One of the core components of a flexible display is a flexible substrate. Although traditional materials such as polyimide (PI) are flexible, they are costly and not environmentally friendly. Nanocellulose films can be used as flexible substrates and have the following advantages:

High transparency: Ensure the clarity of the display effect.

Low surface roughness: Suitable for preparing electronic devices on it.

Degradability: Reduce environmental pollution of electronic waste.

2. Transparent conductive film

Nanocellulose can be compounded with conductive materials (such as silver nanowires, graphene) to make a transparent conductive film for electrode layers of flexible display screens. Its advantages include:

High conductivity: meets the monitor's demand for current transmission.

High flexibility: adapts to folding and bending usage scenarios.

Low cost: It is cheaper than traditional indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes.

3. Barrier membrane

Flexible displays require highly barrier packaging materials to prevent water and oxygen penetration. Nanocellulose films can be made into high-performance barrier films by surface modification or composited with other materials, extending the service life of the display screen.

4. Flexible substrate

In the manufacturing process of flexible display screens, nanocellulose can be used as a temporary substrate for supporting and transferring electronic devices. Its high mechanical strength and flexibility ensure the integrity of the device during the transfer process.

Advantages of nanocellulose flexible display screens

Compared with traditional flexible display materials, nanocellulose has the following advantages:

Comparison items	Nanocellulose	Traditional materials (such as PI, ITO)
Light transmittance	>90%	85%-90%
Tensile strength	200-300 MPa	100-200 MPa
density	1.5 g/cm³	1.4-1.6 g/cm³
Number of bendable times	>10,000 times (bending radius 1 mm)	5,000-10,000 times (bending radius 1 mm)
Biodegradability	Completely degradable	Non-degradable
cost	低	高

Challenges and future prospects

Although nanocellulose exhibits great potential in flexible displays, its large-scale application still faces some challenges:

Large-scale production: It is necessary to further optimize the production process and improve production efficiency.

Interface compatibility: Improve the interface compatibility between nanocellulose and electronic devices to ensure device stability.

Long-term durability: Further study on the performance changes of nanocellulose in long-term use is needed.

Standardization and certification: In the electronics industry, a unified standard and certification system is needed.

In the future, with the advancement of nanotechnology and the deepening of interdisciplinary cooperation, nanocellulose is expected to achieve wider application in the field of flexible display screens, and promote the development of display technology to a more environmentally friendly and efficient direction.

Conclusion

Nanocellulose, as a green and high-performance material, is providing new solutions for the development of flexible display technology. Its unique performance not only meets the requirements of flexible display screens for transparency, flexibility and mechanical strength, but also promotes display technology to develop in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable direction. With the continuous breakthroughs in technology, nanocellulose will surely shine on the stage of flexible display screens and create a smarter and greener future for mankind.