Highly stable silver nanowire dispersion assisted by sulfated holocellulose nanofibers for functional materials

Sulfated holocellulose nanofibers (SHCNFs) were effectively manufactured and employed as a dispersant for silver nanowires (Ag-NWs) to prepare a novel SHCNF/Ag-NW dispersion. SHCNF dispersions possessed extremely high electronegativity (−64.5 mV), which resulted the uniform dispersion of Ag-NWs. Meanwhile, the high elasticity and shear thinning capabilities of SHCNF/Ag-NW dispersions render them promising alternatives in the field of conductive inks. As functional materials fabricated from SHCNF/Ag-NW dispersions, the film showed extremely high conductivity (6000 S/cm) and excellent tensile strength (106 MPa), whereas aerogels as pressure-sensitive sensors exhibited outstanding repeatability, stability, and high sensitivity (75% resistance changes). [Display omitted] •SHCNFs exhibited outstanding colloidal stability.•SHCNFs with a high aspect ratio (∼2000) were achieved in a well-preserved native state.•The SHCNF/Ag-NW inks exhibited high elasticity and shear thinning properties.•The SHCNF/Ag-NW film showed extremely high conductivity (6000 S/cm) and excellent tensile strength (106 MPa).•The SHCNF/Ag-NW aerogel exhibited high sensitivity of the pressure sensing response.