Nature‐Derived Chitosan Biopolymer: A Promising Candidate for Sustainable Electronics
Source abstract
Abstract
ABSTRACT Electronic waste is a growing global challenge, driving the need for eco‐friendly materials and sustainable device architectures. Biodegradable and transient electronics have emerged as promising solutions by enabling controlled degradation and material recovery. Chitosan, a widely abundant biomaterial derived from chitin, has attracted significant attention due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatile chemical functionality. These properties enable its integration across multiple electronic components, supporting the development of fully or partially biodegradable systems. Chitosan has been widely employed as a dielectric layer in transistors, an ionic conductor, a transparent flexible electrode, and as a host or scaffold in electronic devices. Despite extensive research, existing reviews typically focus on specific applications or broader material classes, leaving a gap in understanding how chitosan can be systematically integrated into complete electronic architectures. This review provides a comprehensive and structured analysis of chitosan's properties and its integration into key device components, including electrodes, transistors, memory devices, optoelectronics, energy systems, and scaffolds. By adopting a component‐based framework, this work highlights the potential of chitosan as a unifying platform for the development of next‐generation sustainable and biodegradable electronic technologies.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials · Nanomaterials and Printing Technologies · Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Centre for Materials Science and School of Chemistry and Physics, Faculty of Science Queensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD Australia
Centre for Biomedical Technology Queensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD Australia
Center for Sensors and Devices Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) Trento Italy
Queensland Micro and Nanotechnology Centre Griffith University Nathan
Funding
Australian Research Council
References (100+)
Show source-provided references
1. Dias P. · 2022 · 1510.1002/9783527816392.ch2 ↗
2. 10.1088/0022‐3727/48/33/33510410.1088/0022‐3727/48/33/335104 ↗
3. 10.1002/admt.20210044510.1002/admt.202100445 ↗
4. 10.1016/j.measurement.2023.11326110.1016/j.measurement.2023.113261 ↗
5. Advanced Materials and Systems for Biodegradable, Transient Electronics10.1002/adma.202002211 ↗
6. 10.1002/adfm.20220852110.1002/adfm.202208521 ↗
7. 10.1002/adfm.20180592410.1002/adfm.201805924 ↗
8. Sustainable Natural Bio‐Origin Materials for Future Flexible Devices
9. 10.1002/adma.20200159110.1002/adma.202001591 ↗
10. Biocompatible and Biodegradable Light‐Emitting Materials and Devices10.1002/admt.202100006 ↗
11. Edible and Nutritive Electronics: Materials, Fabrications, Components, and Applications10.1002/admt.202000100 ↗
12. 10.1002/admt.20200075710.1002/admt.202000757 ↗
13. 10.1002/advs.20190287210.1002/advs.201902872 ↗
14. 10.1088/2058‐8585/ac3c3510.1088/2058‐8585/ac3c35 ↗
15. 10.1002/adsu.20220028510.1002/adsu.202200285 ↗
16. 10.1021/acsaelm.1c0021710.1021/acsaelm.1c00217 ↗
17. Cellulose‐Based Flexible Functional Materials for Emerging Intelligent Electronics10.1002/adma.202000619 ↗
18. 10.1002/adsu.20200021610.1002/adsu.202000216 ↗
19. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.06.09010.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.06.090 ↗
20. Transient Electronics as Sustainable Systems: From Fundamentals to Applications10.1002/adsu.202100057 ↗
21. 10.1002/adsu.20190000110.1002/adsu.201900001 ↗
22. 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c0337410.1021/acssuschemeng.1c03374 ↗
23. 10.1002/adma.20200441310.1002/adma.202004413 ↗
24. 10.1021/acscentsci.7b0059510.1021/acscentsci.7b00595 ↗
25. 10.3390/nano907095010.3390/nano9070950 ↗
26. 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2021.10091710.1016/j.pmatsci.2021.100917 ↗
27. 10.1038/ncomms817010.1038/ncomms8170 ↗
28. 10.1002/admt.20200126310.1002/admt.202001263 ↗
29. 10.1016/j.cej.2020.12549910.1016/j.cej.2020.125499 ↗
30. Food W. · 2021
31. 10.1186/s40643‐019‐0243‐y10.1186/s40643‐019‐0243‐y ↗
32. Chitin Biodegradation in Marine Environments10.1021/bk-1998-0707.ch011 ↗
33. 10.1023/A:101561581930110.1023/A:1015615819301 ↗
34. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.10.11310.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.10.113 ↗
35. Extraction, Chemical Modification and Characterization of Chitin and Chitosan10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2018.08.139 ↗
36. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.11.17210.1016/j.ijbiomac.2017.11.172 ↗
37. 10.1063/1.497542710.1063/1.4975427 ↗
38. Crab vs. mushroom: A Review of Crustacean and Fungal Chitin in Wound Treatment10.3390/md18010064 ↗
39. 10.3109/07388551.2012.71721710.3109/07388551.2012.717217 ↗
40. 10.1039/D0NH00696C10.1039/D0NH00696C ↗
41. 10.3390/polym1720272210.3390/polym17202722 ↗
42. 10.1002/bit.26039030510.1002/bit.260390305 ↗
43. 10.3390/ijms2102048710.3390/ijms21020487 ↗
44. 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.04.03110.1016/j.carbpol.2012.04.031 ↗
45. 10.1007/s10692‐008‐9011‐z10.1007/s10692‐008‐9011‐z ↗
46. 10.1016/j.carbpol.2004.08.01510.1016/j.carbpol.2004.08.015 ↗
47. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2008.09.00710.1016/j.ijbiomac.2008.09.007 ↗
48. 10.1016/j.mtchem.2022.10078010.1016/j.mtchem.2022.100780 ↗
49. 10.1007/s10311‐019‐00904‐x10.1007/s10311‐019‐00904‐x ↗
50. 10.3390/app907132110.3390/app9071321 ↗
51. 10.1016/j.carbpol.2007.07.00910.1016/j.carbpol.2007.07.009 ↗
52. 10.3390/gels1111089610.3390/gels11110896 ↗
53. 10.3389/fchem.2023.132742610.3389/fchem.2023.1327426 ↗
54. 10.1021/acsami.0c2130010.1021/acsami.0c21300 ↗
55. 10.1016/j.nanoen.2017.02.02210.1016/j.nanoen.2017.02.022 ↗
56. 10.1016/j.arabjc.2016.09.00810.1016/j.arabjc.2016.09.008 ↗
57. Multifunctional Chitosan–RGO Network Binder for Enhancing the Cycle Stability of Li–S Batteries10.1002/adfm.201907680 ↗
58. 10.1109/94.93335510.1109/94.933355 ↗
59. 10.1002/mame.20170046810.1002/mame.201700468 ↗
60. 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2018.06.06210.1016/j.matchemphys.2018.06.062 ↗
61. 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2005.10.02710.1016/j.matchemphys.2005.10.027 ↗
62. Investigation of Ion Transport Parameters and Electrochemical Performance of Plasticized Biocompatible Chitosan‐Based Proton Conducting Polymer Composite Electrolytes10.3390/membranes10110363 ↗
63. 10.3390/polym1209199110.3390/polym12091991 ↗
64. 10.1081/DDC‐10000048110.1081/DDC‐100000481 ↗
65. 10.1111/j.1365‐2621.2002.tb11382.x10.1111/j.1365‐2621.2002.tb11382.x ↗
66. 10.1016/j.tca.2004.08.01410.1016/j.tca.2004.08.014 ↗
67. Heterogeneous Method of Chitosan Film Preparation: Effect of Multifunctional Acid on Film Properties10.1002/app.48648 ↗
68. 10.1016/j.lwt.2020.10998410.1016/j.lwt.2020.109984 ↗
69. Mechanical and Barrier Properties of Chitosan Combined With Other Components as Food Packaging Film10.1007/s10311-019-00936-3 ↗
70. 10.1016/j.clce.2025.10015710.1016/j.clce.2025.100157 ↗
71. 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b0889710.1021/acs.jpcb.9b08897 ↗
72. 10.1016/j.mattod.2021.10.03010.1016/j.mattod.2021.10.030 ↗
73. 10.1016/j.carbpol.2009.06.02010.1016/j.carbpol.2009.06.020 ↗
74. 10.1021/acsapm.2c0048710.1021/acsapm.2c00487 ↗
75. 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.12714610.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127146 ↗
76. 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.12196010.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121960 ↗
77. 10.1007/s10853‐011‐5862‐410.1007/s10853‐011‐5862‐4 ↗
78. 10.1007/s12274‐020‐3240‐810.1007/s12274‐020‐3240‐8 ↗
79. 10.3390/polym1315251410.3390/polym13152514 ↗
80. 10.18632/oncotarget.1470910.18632/oncotarget.14709 ↗
81. 10.3390/molecules2602027210.3390/molecules26020272 ↗
82. 10.1002/pat.647010.1002/pat.6470 ↗
83. 10.3390/polym1319325610.3390/polym13193256 ↗
84. Novel Biodegradable and Ultra‐Flexible Transparent Conductive Film for Green Light OLED Devices10.1016/j.carbon.2020.10.027 ↗
85. 10.1021/acsami.8b0429110.1021/acsami.8b04291 ↗
86. 10.1038/s41598‐020‐72684‐210.1038/s41598‐020‐72684‐2 ↗
87. 10.1039/D2TC04458G10.1039/D2TC04458G ↗
88. 10.1002/adfm.20150259210.1002/adfm.201502592 ↗
89. Electrical and Photovoltaic Properties of a n‐Si/Chitosan/Ag Photodiode10.1016/j.mee.2008.05.015 ↗
90. 10.1002/asia.20190031810.1002/asia.201900318 ↗
91. 10.1016/j.jmrt.2020.07.09610.1016/j.jmrt.2020.07.096 ↗
92. 10.1002/aelm.20220006910.1002/aelm.202200069 ↗
93. 10.1016/j.orgel.2022.10653910.1016/j.orgel.2022.106539 ↗
94. 10.1016/j.optmat.2018.12.05410.1016/j.optmat.2018.12.054 ↗
95. 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.13069910.1016/j.molstruc.2021.130699 ↗
96. 10.1109/JSEN.2016.261648410.1109/JSEN.2016.2616484 ↗
97. 10.1002/adfm.20211224110.1002/adfm.202112241 ↗
98. 10.1088/1361‐6463/ac2fd910.1088/1361‐6463/ac2fd9 ↗
99. 10.1117/1.JPE.4.04099010.1117/1.JPE.4.040990 ↗
100. Emerging Transparent Conducting Electrodes for Organic Light Emitting Diodes10.3390/electronics3010190 ↗