Chiral Nematic Cellulose Nanocrystal Films for Enhanced Charge Separation and Quantum-Confined Stark Effect.

Efficient charge separation is essential in various optoelectronic systems, yet it continues to pose substantial challenges. Building upon the recent evidence that chiral biomolecules can function as electron spin filters, this study aims to extend the application of chirality-driven charge separation from the molecular level to the mesoscale and supramolecular scale. Utilizing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) derived from cellulose, the most abundant biomaterial on Earth, this research leverages their self-assembly into chiral nematic structures and their dielectric properties.

Biobased Electronics: Tunable Dielectric and Piezoelectric Cellulose Nanocrystal-Protein Films.

Cellulose has been a go-to material for its dielectric properties from the onset of capacitor development. The demand for an energy storage solution continues to grow, but the supply remains limited and relies too often on fossil and mined materials. This work proposes a fully sustainable and green method with which to produce dielectric thin films made of renewable and degradable materials.

Spin-Induced Organization of Cellulose Nanocrystals.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are composed of chiral cellulose units, which form chiral nematic liquid crystals in water that, upon drying, self-assemble to more complex spiral chiral sheets. This secondary structure arrangement is found to change with an external magnetic or electric field. Here, we show that one of the basic organization driving forces is electron spin, which is produced as the charge redistributes in the organization process of the chiral building blocks.

Cellulose Nanocrystals and Corn Zein Oxygen and Water Vapor Barrier Biocomposite Films.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are well-suited to the preparation of biocomposite films and packaging material due to its abundance, renewability, biodegradability, and favorable film-forming capacity. In this study, different CNC and corn zein (CZ) composite films were prepared by adding CZ to the CNC suspension prior to drying, in order to change internal structure of resulting films. Films were developed to examine their performance as an alternative water vapor and oxygen-barrier for flexible packaging industry.