Molecular Design and Structural Optimization of Nanocellulose-Based Functional Films

The present work is focused on molecular design and structural optimization of nanocellulose-based functional films. Since nanocellulose can be modulated and designed at the molecular level, tunable chemistry and functionalization of nanocellulose can offer much richer materials properties and more possibilities to construct nanomaterials with numerous features for advanced applications. Herein, the grafting of carbazole units on allyl-functionalized nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) enabled photoluminescence activity. Additionally, flexible, strong, and electrically conductive nanocellulose-based polythiophene nanofilms were fabricated. The results reveal that cellulose nanofibers changed their nature from insulator to semiconductor. Finally, regioselective functionalization of NFC was conducted to investigate whether precise control of the positioning of functional groups can enhance the electroactivity properties of nanocellulose-based films. Regioselective tuning for the design and configuration of flexible nano-substrates as demonstrated in this study can be replicated by other researchers for other cellulose derivatives. The synergetic effect of two or even three different moieties grafted on anhydroglucose units may create limitless possibilities for the design of advanced engineered nanomaterials.

Department dc:contributor.department

Forestry

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Titton Dias, Otavio Augusto

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Sain, Mohini

Statement dc:rights

• Attribution 4.0 International

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1807/108847

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:utoronto.scholaris.ca:1807/108847