| Literature DB >> 35475342 |
Han Yang1, Gianni Jacucci1, Lukas Schertel1, Silvia Vignolini1.
Abstract
To manipulate the light-matter interaction effectively, we often rely on high refractive index inorganic nanoparticles. Such materials are contained essentially in everything that looks colorful or white: from paints to coatings but also in processed food, toothpaste, and cosmetic products. As these nanoparticles can accumulate in the human body and environment, there is a strong need to replace them with more biocompatible counterparts. In this work, we introduce various types of cellulose-based microparticles (CMPs) of four sizes with optimized dimensions for efficient light scattering that can replace traditional inorganic particles. We demonstrate that the produced materials can be exploited as highly efficient scattering enhancers, with designed optical performance. Finally, exploiting these cellulose colloids, we fabricated scattering materials and high transmittance/haze films with record performances with respect to the state-of-the-art values. The renewable and biocompatible nature of our systems, combined with their excellent optical properties, allows for the use of our cellulose-based particles in paints, LEDs, and solar cell devices and especially in applications where the biocompatibility of the component is essential, such as in food and pharmaceutical coatings.Entities:
Keywords: cellulose particles; light transport; optical haze; scattering; transparency; whiteness
Year: 2022 PMID: 35475342 PMCID: PMC9134489 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c09198
Source DB: PubMed Journal: ACS Nano ISSN: 1936-0851 Impact factor: 18.027
Figure 1STEM images of (a) CMPs-S, (b) CMPs-M, (c) CMPs-L, and (d) CMPs-XL. Particle size distribution: (e) width distribution probability and (f) length distribution probability of CMPs-S, CMPs-M, CMPs-L, and CMP-XL, respectively (width and length were measured from STEM images). (g) Picture of light passing through suspensions of CMPs-L, CMPs-M, CMPs-S, CMPs-XL (concentration is 0.1% in weight percentage), and water (from left to right, illumination from the front). (h) Reflectance of the four cellulose CMP suspensions shown in the picture in part g, measured with an integrating sphere. (i) Optical simulations of the scattering cross section of the four different CMP building blocks.
Dimensions of Various Cellulose Particlesa
| cellulose particles | width | length | thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMPs-S | 40 ± 9 nm | 228 ± 32 nm | 13 ± 2.3 nm |
| CMPs-M | 212 ± 64 nm | 1944 ± 677 nm | 84 ± 26 nm |
| CMPs-L | 520 ± 151 nm | 2706 ± 767 nm | 174 ± 58 nm |
| CMPs-XL | 20 ± 5.5 μm | 547 ± 140 μm | 2.8 ± 0.6 μm |
The width and length were obtained with STEM, and the thickness was obtained with the cross section of SEM.
Figure 2(a) Picture of a typical white film (9 μm in thickness) made from CMPs-L particles. The text underneath this film is hard to be resolved even when the center part of the film is closely touched with the background paper. (b) SEM image of the cross section of the white film shown in part a. (c) Reflectance of white films made of CMPs-L, CMPs-M, and CMPs-S at the same thickness of 25 μm and ff = 25%, measured with an integrating sphere. (d) Angular distribution of the intensity (wavelength = 400 nm) reflected by films made of CMPs-L particles by goniometer measurement. Even for the lowest thickness, CMPs-L-based materials follow a Lambertian distribution. Intensity normalized to a white diffuser.
Transport Mean Free Path and Whiteness Values for Different Cellulose-Based Materialsa
| cellulose particles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMPs-S | 0.24 ± 0.01 | 21.4 ± 1.0 | 25.8 ± 1.2 | 66 |
| CMPs-M | 0.25 ± 0.01 | 6.8 ± 0.3 | 24.5 ± 1.3 | 83 |
| CMPs-L | 0.25 ± 0.01 | 2.6 ± 0.04 | 24.8 ± 0.5 | 89 |
| CMPs-L | 0.39 ± 0.02 | 1.6 ± 0.1 | 9.2 ± 0.4 | 84 |
| CMPs-L | 0.53 ± 0.02 | 0.99 ± 0.05 | 9.0 ± 0.5 | 88 |
| CNFs | 9 | 86 |
The thickness was obtained from SEM, the filling fraction was calculated by the method described in the Characterizations section, and the transport mean free path was obtained by the method described in the Characterizations section. The whiteness of CNF systems was calculated from the raw data in ref (13), where ff, l, t, and W are the filling fraction, mean free path, thickness, and whiteness, respectively.
Figure 3(a) Photograph of a high optical haze film (with 20% CMPs-XL). The upside part of the film is about 1 cm above the background. (b) SEM image of the surface of a composite film with 20% CMPs-XL. (c) Transmittance and haze spectra of a composite film with 20% CMPs-XL, measured with an integrating sphere. (d) Angular distribution of the intensity (wavelength = 400 nm) transmitted through films made of CMPs-XL by goniometer measurement. Both 20% CMPs-XL and 30% CMPs-XL samples show transmitted light outside the ballistic direction (180°). Intensity normalized to the maximum of the curve. (e) Schematic of the setup for showing the light scattering effect of the prepared films. The light scattering effect of (f) a pure CMC film and (g) a composite film with 20% CMPs-XL when a laser with a diameter of 0.2 cm passes through.