Cellulose Based Photonic Materials

Improper recycling of plastics leads to their degradation in the environment, resulting in smaller pieces of plastics that are harmful for the life on the planet. Microplastics are also intentionally included in many products as whitening agents, to produce white appearance in many personal care products and contribute to the microplastic pollution. In this proposal, we will provide the industry with viable alternatives to substitute current opacifying agents that follow European regulations. In particular, we will propose the use of cellulose, earths most abundant biopolymer which is also bioresorbable. To this end, we will exploit our expertise in photonic architectures to engineer scattering inks from nanocellulosic and seaweed materials. In addition, we will also expand the range of applications of cellulose-derived thin films through an inexpensive and scalable patterning process that provides optical functionality to these membranes. The development of smart paper films with different sensing or anti-reflection functionalities will serve to illustrate the many hidden talents of this biomaterial.