{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,5]],"date-time":"2026-08-05T03:55:52Z","timestamp":1785902152651,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"20","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,21]],"date-time":"2024-10-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1729468800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"BRICS","award":["150501"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["150501"]}]},{"name":"BRICS","award":["150558"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["150558"]}]},{"name":"NRF grants ITAL2205015599","award":["150501"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["150501"]}]},{"name":"NRF grants ITAL2205015599","award":["150558"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["150558"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Biodegradable electronic devices play a crucial role in addressing the escalating issue of electronic waste accumulation, which poses significant environmental threats. In this study, we explore the utilization of a methanol-based extract of the Elaeodendron buchananii plant blended with a carboxymethyl cellulose biopolymer to produce a biodegradable and environmentally friendly functional material for a resistive switching memory system using silver and tungsten electrodes. Our analyses revealed that these two materials chemically interact to generate a perfect composite with near semiconducting optical bandgap (4.01 eV). The resultant device exhibits O-type memory behavior, with a low ON\/OFF ratio, strong endurance (\u2265103 write\/erase cycles), and satisfactory (\u2265103) data retention. Furthermore, through a comprehensive transport mechanism analysis, we observed the formation of traps in the composite that significantly improved conduction in the device. In addition, we established that altering the voltage amplitude modifies the concentration of traps, leading to voltage amplitude-driven multiple resistance states. Overall, our findings underscore the potential of functionalizing polymers that can be functionalized by incorporating plant extracts, resulting in biodegradable and nonvolatile memory devices with promising performance metrics.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym16202949","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,21]],"date-time":"2024-10-21T08:53:11Z","timestamp":1729500791000},"page":"2949","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Chemical and Resistive Switching Properties of Elaeodendron buchananii Extract\u2013Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composite: A Potential Active Layer for Biodegradable Memory Devices"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0932-0556","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zolile Wiseman","family":"Dlamini","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Maths, Science and Technology Education, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sreedevi","family":"Vallabhapurapu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Computing, University of South Africa, Florida Park 1710, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0950-7652","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jennifer","family":"Nambooze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chemistry Department, University of Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4561-5589","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anke","family":"Wilhelm","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chemistry Department, University of Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth","family":"Erasmus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chemistry Department, University of Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Refilwe","family":"Mogale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chemistry Department, University of Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa"},{"name":"Rand Water, Chemistry Department, Scientific Services Division, Vereeniging 1939, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7843-3357","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marthinus Rudi","family":"Swart","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Chemistry Department, University of Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vijaya Srinivasu","family":"Vallabhapurapu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physics Department, University of South Africa, 28 Pioneer Avenue, Florida Park 1710, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bheki","family":"Mamba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability, University of South Africa, 28 Pioneer Avenue, Florida Park 1710, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wendy","family":"Setlalentoa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Maths, Science and Technology Education, Central University of Technology, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Tebogo Sfiso","family":"Mahule","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physics Department, University of South Africa, 28 Pioneer Avenue, Florida Park 1710, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vanessa de Oliveira Arnoldi","family":"Pellegrini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S\u00e3o Carlos Institute of Physics, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Jardim Santa Angelina, S\u00e3o Carlos 13560-000, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8759-6764","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Shaun","family":"Cronje","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Physics Department, University of Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9496-4174","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Igor","family":"Polikarpov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S\u00e3o Carlos Institute of Physics, University of S\u00e3o Paulo, Jardim Santa Angelina, S\u00e3o Carlos 13560-000, S\u00e3o Paulo, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"726","DOI":"10.1039\/D2MA00940D","article-title":"A review on polymers and their composites for flexible electronics","volume":"4","author":"Li","year":"2022","journal-title":"Mater. Adv."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"26330","DOI":"10.1039\/D3RA03869F","article-title":"Effect of long chain fatty acids on the memory switching behavior of tetraindolyl derivatives","volume":"13","author":"Sarkar","year":"2023","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mser.2014.06.002","article-title":"Recent progress in resistive random access memories: Materials, switching mechanisms, and performance","volume":"83","author":"Pan","year":"2014","journal-title":"Mater. Sci. Eng. R Rep."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mee.2018.01.009","article-title":"Brain-inspired computing with resistive switching memory (RRAM): Devices, synapses and neural networks","volume":"190","author":"Ielmini","year":"2018","journal-title":"Microelectron. Eng."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"011301","DOI":"10.1063\/1.5124915","article-title":"Reliability of analog resistive switching memory for neuromorphic computing","volume":"7","author":"Zhao","year":"2020","journal-title":"Appl. Phys. Rev."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"108292","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sse.2022.108292","article-title":"Design of RRAM with high storage capacity and high reliability for IoT applications","volume":"194","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Solid-State Electron."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kim, Y., An, J.S., Lee, D., Ryu, S.Y., Hwang, Y.C., Kim, D.H., and Kim, T.W. (2023). Biocompatible memristive device based on an agarose@gold nanoparticle-nanocomposite layer obtained from nature for neuromorphic computing. Sci. Rep., 13.","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-32860-6"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1038\/s41378-022-00390-2","article-title":"Ionic liquid multistate resistive switching characteristics in two terminal soft and flexible discrete channels for neuromorphic computing","volume":"8","author":"Khan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Microsyst. Nanoeng."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rahman, M.S., Hasan, M.S., Nitai, A.S., Nam, S., Karmakar, A.K., Ahsan, M.S., Shiddiky, M.J., and Ahmed, M.B. (2021). Recent developments of carboxymethyl cellulose. Polymers, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym13081345"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100481","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rinma.2023.100481","article-title":"Applications of biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose-based composites","volume":"20","author":"Tyagi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Results Mater."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klunklin, W., Jantanasakulwong, K., Phimolsiripol, Y., Leksawasdi, N., Seesuriyachan, P., Chaiyaso, T., Insomphun, C., Phongthai, S., Jantrawut, P., and Sommano, S.R. (2020). Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Carboxymethyl Cellulose from Asparagus Stalk End. Polymers, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym13010081"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1111\/gcbb.12586","article-title":"Integrated lignocellulosic value chains in a growing bioeconomy: Status quo and perspectives","volume":"11","author":"Dahmen","year":"2019","journal-title":"GCB Bioenergy"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lima, M.A., Gomez, L.D., Steele-King, C.G., Simister, R., Bernardinelli, O.D., Carvalho, M.A., Rezende, C.A., Labate, C.A., Deazevedo, E.R., and McQueen-Mason, S.J. (2014). Evaluating the composition and processing potential of novel sources of Brazilian biomass for sustainable biorenewables production. Biotechnol. Biofuels, 7.","DOI":"10.1186\/1754-6834-7-10"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"680","DOI":"10.1007\/s12221-014-0680-3","article-title":"Production of carboxymethylcellulose fibers from waste lignocellulosic sawdust using NaOH\/NaClO2 pretreatment","volume":"15","author":"Gulati","year":"2014","journal-title":"Fibers Polym."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1587","DOI":"10.1007\/s12649-017-9903-3","article-title":"Comprehension on the Synthesis of Carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) Utilizing Various Cellulose Rich Waste Biomass Resources","volume":"9","author":"Kukrety","year":"2018","journal-title":"Waste Biomass Valorization"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5723","DOI":"10.1039\/D2RA08244F","article-title":"Carboxymethyl cellulose-based materials as an alternative source for sustainable electrochemical devices: A review","volume":"13","author":"Akhlaq","year":"2023","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"41937","DOI":"10.1021\/acsomega.2c03461","article-title":"Piezoresistive Behavior of Polypyrrole:Carboxymethyl Cellulose Composites","volume":"7","author":"Nguyen","year":"2022","journal-title":"ACS Omega"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"014006","DOI":"10.1088\/2058-8585\/aa5ef9","article-title":"Printable cellulose-based electroconductive composites for sensing elements in paper electronics","volume":"2","author":"Barras","year":"2017","journal-title":"Flex. Print. Electron."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134244","DOI":"10.1016\/j.molstruc.2022.134244","article-title":"Tuning optical, dielectric, and electrical properties of Polyethylene oxide\/Carboxymethyl cellulose doped with mixed metal oxide nanoparticles for flexible electronic devices","volume":"1272","author":"Alsulami","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Mol. Struct."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3073","DOI":"10.1007\/s10570-023-05070-6","article-title":"Development of chlorine dioxide sustained-release device using carboxymethyl cellulose-polyvinyl alcohol-\u03b2-cyclodextrin ternary hydrogel and a new sustained-release kinetic model","volume":"30","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cellulose"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbpol.2019.03.040","article-title":"Fabrication of carboxymethyl cellulose and graphene oxide bio-nanocomposites for flexible nonvolatile resistive switching memory devices","volume":"214","author":"Liu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Carbohydr. Polym."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"270","DOI":"10.1002\/etc.5620150307","article-title":"The biodegradability and nontoxicity of carboxymethyl cellulose (DS 0.7) and intermediates","volume":"15","author":"VanGinkel","year":"1996","journal-title":"Environ. Toxicol. Chem."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jennifer, N., Mishra, A.P., Nigam, M., Devkota, H.P., Paudel, K.R., and Matsabisa, M.G. (2022). Bioactive Compounds from the Plants of the Elaeodendron Genus and Their Biological Activities\u2014A Review. Appl. Sci., 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/app122412618"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"510","DOI":"10.1080\/10286020.2017.1420648","article-title":"New compounds with antimicrobial activities from Elaeodendron buchananii stem bark","volume":"20","author":"Wong","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kola, V., and Carvalho, I.S. (2023). Plant extracts as additives in biodegradable films and coatings in active food packaging. Food Biosci., 54.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fbio.2023.102860"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107159","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mtcomm.2023.107159","article-title":"Extraction, chemical, and dual-functional memory and threshold resistive switching characteristics of Elaeodendron buchananii extract","volume":"37","author":"Dlamini","year":"2023","journal-title":"Mater. Today Commun."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2450217","DOI":"10.1142\/S0218126624502177","article-title":"Resistive Switching Property of Euforbia Cotinifolia Plant Extract for Potential Use in Eco-Friendly Memory Devices","volume":"33","author":"Dlamini","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Circuits Syst. Comput."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1016\/j.proeng.2017.04.133","article-title":"Filamentary Conduction in Aloe Vera Film for Memory Application","volume":"184","author":"Lim","year":"2017","journal-title":"Procedia Eng."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1803970","DOI":"10.1002\/smll.201803970","article-title":"Biodegradable Natural Pectin-Based Flexible Multilevel Resistive Switching Memory for Transient Electronics","volume":"15","author":"Xu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Small"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"496","DOI":"10.1021\/acsabm.8b00226","article-title":"Metal Ions Redox Induced Repeatable Nonvolatile Resistive Switching Memory Behavior in Biomaterials","volume":"1","author":"Zheng","year":"2018","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Biol. Mater."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zhao, M., Zhang, S., Fang, G., Huang, C., and Wu, T. (2020). Directionally-Grown Carboxymethyl Cellulose\/Reduced Graphene Oxide Aerogel with Excellent Structure Stability and Adsorption Capacity. Polymers, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/polym12102219"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"703","DOI":"10.1080\/05704928.2018.1426595","article-title":"FTIR analysis of natural and synthetic collagen","volume":"53","author":"Riaz","year":"2018","journal-title":"Appl. Spectrosc. Rev."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"806","DOI":"10.1007\/s11082-022-04107-7","article-title":"Enhancing the optical properties of chitosan, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate modified with nano metal oxide and graphene oxide","volume":"54","author":"Omar","year":"2022","journal-title":"Opt. Quantum Electron."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2250113","DOI":"10.1142\/S0218126622501134","article-title":"Resistive Switching in CdTe\/CdSe Core\u2013Shell Quantum Dots Embedded Chitosan-Based Memory Devices","volume":"31","author":"Dlamini","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Circuits Syst. Comput."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1016\/j.orgel.2015.03.045","article-title":"A reproducible write-(read)n-erase and multilevel bio-memristor based on DNA molecule","volume":"22","author":"Qin","year":"2015","journal-title":"Org. Electron."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49753","DOI":"10.1039\/C7RA09806E","article-title":"Multilevel data storage memory based on polycrystalline SrTiO3 ultrathin film","volume":"7","author":"Hou","year":"2017","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2002653","DOI":"10.1002\/adfm.202002653","article-title":"Layered (C6H5CH2NH3)2CuBr4 Perovskite for Multilevel Storage Resistive Switching Memory","volume":"30","author":"Kim","year":"2020","journal-title":"Adv. Funct. Mater."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6562","DOI":"10.1002\/adma.201600859","article-title":"Organolead Halide Perovskites for Low Operating Voltage Multilevel Resistive Switching","volume":"28","author":"Choi","year":"2016","journal-title":"Adv. Mater."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"162141","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jallcom.2021.162141","article-title":"Forming-free Pt\/Al2O3\/HfO2\/HfAlOx\/TiN memristor with controllable multilevel resistive switching and neuromorphic characteristics for artificial synapse","volume":"892","author":"Ismail","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Alloys Compd."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103275","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rinp.2020.103275","article-title":"Resistive switching characteristics and mechanism of bilayer HfO2\/ZrO2 structure deposited by radio-frequency sputtering for nonvolatile memory","volume":"18","author":"Ismail","year":"2020","journal-title":"Results Phys."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9409","DOI":"10.1021\/acsami.9b17680","article-title":"Resistive Switching in Nonperovskite-Phase CsPbI3 Film-Based Memory Devices","volume":"12","author":"Xu","year":"2020","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"357","DOI":"10.1016\/S0167-9317(02)01025-0","article-title":"Trap assisted leakage current conduction in thin silicon oxynitride films grown by rapid thermal oxidation combined microwave excited plasma nitridation","volume":"65","author":"Perera","year":"2003","journal-title":"Microelectron. Eng."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"586","DOI":"10.3390\/electronics4030586","article-title":"Conduction mechanism of valence change resistive switching memory: A survey","volume":"4","author":"Lim","year":"2015","journal-title":"Electronics"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3674","DOI":"10.1021\/acsaelm.1c00398","article-title":"Comprehensive Model of Electron Conduction in Oxide-Based Memristive Devices","volume":"3","author":"Funck","year":"2021","journal-title":"ACS Appl. Electron. Mater."}],"container-title":["Polymers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/16\/20\/2949\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T16:17:33Z","timestamp":1760113053000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-4360\/16\/20\/2949"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,21]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"20","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,10]]}},"alternative-id":["polym16202949"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/polym16202949","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-4360"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-4360","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,10,21]]}}}