From Screens to Batteries: The Future of Materials May Be Plant-Based, Not Plastic.

Can Displays Be “Grown”? Unlocking the Future Potential of Plant-Based Materials

 

As the world accelerates toward net-zero emissions and circular economy goals, the electronics and display industries face unprecedented pressure for material innovation. Balancing high performance with renewable, low-impact materials has become a critical direction for future development. The 2025 Touch Taiwan exhibition, themed “Forward Together,” focuses on Smart Displays, Smart Manufacturing, and Electronic Manufacturing Equipment, with over 350 domestic and international companies participating. The event highlights cutting-edge technologies and process innovations while signaling that material sustainability is becoming a key driver in industry upgrades.

 

Amid this backdrop, two highly functional, plant-derived bio-based materials—lignin and nanocellulose—are gaining increasing attention from industries and research institutions. These materials not only offer partial replacements for petroleum-based substances, but also enhance manufacturing efficiency and product performance, making them promising candidates for advancing sustainability in electronic and display materials.

 

Lignin: A Byproduct Transformed into Functional Material

 

Lignin is a natural aromatic polymer found in plant cell walls, comprising over 20% of the dry weight of plants. Traditionally a byproduct of the paper industry, most lignin has been used as fuel. However, with advances in material chemistry and modification technologies, lignin's value has been rediscovered.

 

Through esterification, graft polymerization, or carbonization, lignin can be transformed into functional materials widely applied in conductive carbon inks, UV absorbers, thermal stabilizers, and eco-friendly adhesives. Examples include:

 

• Conductive Inks: Carbonized lignin can produce conductive carbon materials for use in OLED electrodes, touch sensors, or low-grade conductors in printed circuit boards (PCBs), offering low cost and stable sourcing.

• Optical and Protective Applications: With its natural UV-absorbing properties, lignin is ideal for anti-UV films on displays or protective layers on e-paper, improving product durability and weather resistance.

• Energy Storage Devices: Lignin-derived porous carbon materials can serve in lithium battery anodes and supercapacitors, achieving both energy performance and sustainability goals. 

 

Nanocellulose: A High-Strength, Transparent Material of the Future

Nanocellulose, derived from plant fibers, features a nanostructure with high surface area, mechanical strength, and exceptional transparency. It exists in two main forms: CNF (Cellulose Nanofiber) and CNC (Cellulose Nanocrystal).

 

In the electronics and display sectors, nanocellulose’s potential is increasingly being realized:

 

• Display Substrates: CNC can replace traditional PET or PEN films in e-paper and flexible displays. With low thermal expansion, high light transmittance, and heat resistance, it is especially suitable for foldable or bendable devices.

• Conductive Ink Additive: CNF can serve as a thickener and structural stabilizer in conductive inks, enhancing rheological control and consistency in printed circuits or sprayed conductive layers.

• High-Barrier Packaging Materials: CNF-resin composites can form gas-barrier films for OLED module encapsulation or battery protection, mitigating moisture and oxygen damage to components.

 

Application Field Analysis in Line with Exhibition Themes

 

Aligning with the three main themes of Touch Taiwan, the potential integration of lignin and nanocellulose in the industry can be summarized as follows:

 

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Bio-Based Materials as a Catalyst for a Low-Carbon Future

 

Lignin and nanocellulose are no longer confined to the lab—they are viable, scalable, and increasingly adopted in real-world applications. Offering environmental benefits, functional versatility, and cost-effectiveness, these materials represent concrete alternatives as the global supply chain searches for low-carbon solutions.

 

Touch Taiwan, as a key platform for Asia’s technology sector, not only showcases innovation but reflects market trends. Incorporating these high-potential bio-based materials into core areas like displays, encapsulation, energy storage, and conductive layers could help Taiwan’s electronics industry achieve green manufacturing and enhance international competitiveness.