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Responsive Mesoporous Photonic Cellulose Films by Supramolecular Cotemplating
Author(s) -
Giese Michael,
Blusch Lina K.,
Khan Mostofa K.,
Hamad Wadood Y.,
MacLachlan Mark J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201402214
Subject(s) - mesoporous material , cellulose , materials science , supramolecular chemistry , cellulosic ethanol , nanotechnology , nanocomposite , liquid crystal , cellulose fiber , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , chemistry , molecule , catalysis , optoelectronics , engineering
Cellulose‐based materials have been and continue to be exceptionally important for humankind. Considering the bioavailability and societal relevance of cellulose, turning this renewable resource into an active material is a vital step towards sustainability. Herein we report a new form of cellulose‐derived material that combines tunable photonic properties with a unique mesoporous structure resulting from a new supramolecular cotemplating method. A composite of cellulose nanocrystals and a urea–formaldehyde resin organizes into a chiral nematic assembly, which yields a chiral nematic mesoporous continuum of desulfated cellulose nanocrystals after alkaline treatment. The mesoporous photonic cellulose (MPC) films undergo rapid and reversible changes in color upon swelling, and can be used for pressure sensing. These new active mesoporous cellulosic materials have potential applications in biosensing, optics, functional membranes, chiral separation, and tissue engineering.