Active, Multi-functional Biopolymer Interfacial Constructs: Beyond Structural Nanocomposites
Abstract
Naturally derived polymers, produced by plants, animals, and micro-organisms as the main components of their bodies, have the ability to self-organize into complex structures and function as systems possessing hierarchical and long-range order. These structures demonstrate good mechanical properties, lightweight, renewability, and prospective low-cost combined with prospective biocompatibility and biodegradability. The overall goal of this project is to leverage the exceptional properties of bioderived materials in order to create novel multifunctional nanocomposites based on the integration of synthetic and bioderived materials. We consider a combination of assemblyapproaches such as guided assembly, spontaneous self assembly, 2D printing and lithographic techniques to fabricate bionanocomposites with patterned electrical conductivity for the generation of micro- and nanoscale organized functional bio-enabled materials with matched biological and synthetic materials. In the course of this study, we have demonstrated how biopolymeric matrix of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can improve photonic properties of carbon quantum dots; how robust hybrid composites can be fabricated by directed assembly; how CNCs can be carefully organized in stack with cellulose nanofibers, as well as other amorphous polymers for improved mechanical strength andtoughness, all while maintaining their vivid structural color and chiral nematic morphology. For mixed bundles, stressstrain plots show significant plastic deformation, and a higher resistance was observed for the mixed samples. Overall, the resulting strength of co-assembled composites is much higher than that of regular CNCs, and there is significantly higher strain energy for limited bundles.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 29, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1121633
Entities
People
- Vladimir V. Tsukruk
Organizations
- Georgia Tech Research Corporation