Barra, AnaFerreira, Nuno M.Pocas, FátimaRuiz-Hitzky, EduardoNunes, CláudiaFerreira, Paula2024-11-042024-11-042025-010008-6223http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/47106Flexible and electrically conductive materials are gaining significant attention across various domains, notably in electronics, biomedicine and food industry. One promising strategy involves the integration of electrically conductive nanostructures into a polymeric matrix to fabricate composite materials. However, achieving uniform through-plane electrical conductivity remains a challenge due to the preferential alignment of carbon nanostructures in the in-plane direction. Herein, we report the development of electrically conductive chitosan (CS)- based biocomposite films incorporating a multicomponent filler system. By combining carbon supported on sepiolite clay (CARSEP) with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), it is aimed to facilitate an interconnected distribution in both in-plane and through-plane directions. The optimized film, featuring a CS/CARSEP/MWCNT mass ratio of 50/40/10, exhibited a maximum electrical conductivity of 55.5 S/m and 0.1 S/m in the in-plane and through-plane directions, respectively. Additionally, migration studies demonstrated the absence of harmful compounds upon heating the film up to 60 ◦C in air, ethanol, or hexane. These findings highlight the potential of these flexible and electrically conductive biocomposite films, primarily composed of biobased materials, for applications requiring through-plane electrical conductivity.engBiocomposite filmsCarbon-sepioliteChitosanElectrical conductivityMultiwalled carbon nanotubesjournal article10.1016/j.carbon.2024.11969185206123829001334592900001