Nanocellulose-Based\nNatural Polyphenol-Modified Flexible\nSensing Aerogel

This paper presents an approach to enhancing nanocellulose\naerogels\nas flexible piezoresistive sensor substrates by constructing polyphenol–metal\nnetworks within the aerogel structure. Specifically, tannic acid (TA),\na plant-based polyphenol, is utilized to improve the aerogel’s\nmechanical properties, such as compressive strength and elasticity,\nwhich are essential for durability in sensor applications. The integration\nof multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with nanocellulose further\nbolsters the aerogel’s electrical conductivity, with TA playing\na key role in stabilizing the dispersion of MWCNTs within the nanocellulose\nmatrix. The resulting aerogel, prepared through freeze-drying, exhibits\nsignificant improvements: a compressive strength of 316.7 kPa under\n50% deformation, which is 3 times that of a pure nanocellulose aerogel,\nan impressive 80% elastic recovery rate, and a consistent performance\nunder cyclic compression for 3600 s. This work offers a sustainable\nand straightforward approach to creating flexible sensor substrates\nwith enhanced mechanical resilience and stable electrical properties,\naligned with green material sourcing and scalability.