Digital color in cellulose nanocrystal films

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2014 Aug 13;6(15):12302-6. doi: 10.1021/am501995e. Epub 2014 Jul 28.

Abstract

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) form chiral nematic phases in aqueous suspensions that can be preserved upon evaporation of water. The resulting films show an intense directional coloration determined by their microstructure. Here, microreflection experiments correlated with analysis of the helicoidal nanostructure of the films reveal that the iridescent colors and the ordering of the individual nematic layers are strongly dependent on the polydispersity of the size distribution of the CNCs. We show how this affects the self-assembly process, and hence multidomain color formation in such bioinspired structural films.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Color
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Nanoparticles / ultrastructure
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry

Substances

  • Polystyrenes
  • Cellulose