Cellulose nanocrystal-based materials: from liquid crystal self-assembly and glass formation to multifunctional thin films

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), produced by the acid hydrolysis of wood, cotton or other cellulose-rich sources, constitute a renewable nanosized raw material with a broad range of envisaged uses: for example, in composites, cosmetics and medical devices. The intriguing ability of CNCs to self-organize into a chiral nematic (cholesteric) liquid crystal phase with a helical arrangement has attracted significant interest, resulting in much research effort, as this arrangement gives dried CNC films a photonic band gap. The films thus acquire attractive optical properties, creating possibilities for use in applications such as security papers and mirrorless lasing. In this critical review, we discuss the sensitive…

• AV
  Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
• NR
  National Research Foundation
• SF
  Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education
• KO
  Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
• WW
  Wallenberg Wood Science Center