Photonic composite materials from cellulose nanorods and clay nanolayers

Ana C. Trindade, Miguel Carreto, Geir Helgesen, Kenneth D. Knudsen, Florian Puchtler, Josef Breu, Susete Fernandes, Maria Helena Godinho, Jon Otto Fossum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)
30 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Cellulose nano crystals (CNCs) are promising materials for energy efficient buildings related to the control of reflectivity and heat absorption/reflection of light. In this sense it is important to improve CNCs films fire retardant properties, which can be achieved by adding clays. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and nanolayers obtained from Sodium Fluorohectorite (NaFh) synthetic clay are both known to form liquid crystalline phases in aqueous suspensions. CNCs form cholesteric phases, which structure is preserved after water evaporation, while dry NaFh nanolayers aligned films collapse. In this initial work, it is shown that CNCs are compatible with NaFh clay. We demonstrate that the liquid crystalline phase of CNCs in water is not destroyed by the presence of NaFh nanolayers. The NaFh nanolayers act as planar anchoring surfaces to the cellulose nanorods and, after evaporation of the water coloured films are obtained. The precursor solutions and the photonic films were investigated by Describe several techniques.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2741-2755
Number of pages15
JournalEuropean Physical Journal: Special Topics
Volume229
Issue number17-18
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2020

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