Sustainable Cellulose-Derived Organic Photonic Gels with Tunable and Dynamic Structural Color.

ABSTRACT: Structural color is a fascinating optical phenomenon arising from intricate light-matter interactions. Biological structural colors from natural polymers are invaluable in biomimetic design and sustainable construction. Here, we report a renewable, abundant, and biodegradable cellulose-derived organic gel that generates stable cholesteric liquid crystal structures with vivid structural colors. We construct the chromatic gel using a 68 wt % hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) matrix, incorporating distinct polyethylene glycol (PEG) guest molecules. The PEGs contain peculiar end groups with tailored polarity, allowing for precise positioning on the HPC helical backbone through electrostatic repulsion between the PEG and HPC chains. This preserves the HPC's chiral nematic phase without being disrup

SUBMITTER: Huang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10832026 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature