Biomass-derived fibrous materials for flexible electronics

Abstract

Flexible electronics have developed rapidly in recent years, with petroleum-derived polymers, often processed into fibrous forms, serving as the dominant material platform. Although mature in processing and performance, these materials are non-degradable, resource-intensive, and mechanically mismatched with soft tissues, raising environmental and comfort concerns. In contrast, biomass-based fibrous materials, with renewability, biodegradability, hierarchical porosity, and rich surface chemistry, offer a more sustainable and adaptable alternative for next-generation flexible electronics. This review summarizes the development of biomass-based fibrous materials and their derived architectures, beginning with the structural and chemical origins of their functionality and highlighting how multiscale fibrous networks and abundant functional groups enable mechanical compliance, interfacial engineering, and conductive network construction. It then outlines key fabrication strategies, including direct use of natural fibers, dissolution–regeneration, and gelation-based assembly, emphasizing their roles in structural control and device integration. Building on this, recent advances are discussed across major application domains, including chemical and biophysical sensing, therapeutic electronics, energy devices, and integrated sensing systems, with emphasis on structure–property–performance relationships. Finally, remaining challenges in material consistency, long-term stability, and scalable manufacturing are outlined, together with perspectives on green processing and system-level integration for sustainable flexible electronics.