Responsive cellulose nanocrystal‐based liquid crystals: From structural color manipulation to applications
Abstract Cellulose, one of the most versatile and abundant biopolymers in nature, has been employed by humans for thousands of years in diverse applications, such as renewable energy resources, structural materials, and fabric constituents. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), obtained through the acidic...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Responsive Materials |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/rpm2.70020 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849406594433941504 |
|---|---|
| author | Jiao Liu Ye‐Ming Qing Jun‐Jie Wu Jing‐Qi Tian Chi‐Bo Feng Xin‐Yu Zhou Yun Ma Bing‐Xiang Li Yan‐Qing Lu Quan Li |
| author_facet | Jiao Liu Ye‐Ming Qing Jun‐Jie Wu Jing‐Qi Tian Chi‐Bo Feng Xin‐Yu Zhou Yun Ma Bing‐Xiang Li Yan‐Qing Lu Quan Li |
| author_sort | Jiao Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cellulose, one of the most versatile and abundant biopolymers in nature, has been employed by humans for thousands of years in diverse applications, such as renewable energy resources, structural materials, and fabric constituents. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), obtained through the acidic hydrolysis of cellulose‐based materials including wood, cotton, and additional sources, have attracted significant attention in areas, for example, energy storage, cosmetics, and medical devices. CNCs can spontaneously assemble into a cholesteric liquid crystal phase, which exhibits distinctive properties including biodegradability, high surface area, low cost, excellent mechanical strength, and surface functionality. Modifying the surfaces of CNCs or embedding CNCs with other materials enables novel cellulose‐based composites for advanced technologies and applications. This review systematically outlines the preparation of cellulose‐based liquid crystals (LCs), highlights the structural color regulation, photonic properties manipulation, and potential applications. Specifically, stimuli responsiveness, for example, temperature‐responsiveness, humidity‐responsiveness, pressure‐responsiveness, tension‐responsiveness, electricity‐responsiveness, magnetic force‐responsiveness and the optical properties of cellulose‐based LCs (circularly polarized light modulation and circularly polarized phosphorescence properties) are demonstrated. Furthermore, the applications of cellulose‐based LCs for gas detection, anticounterfeiting, multicolor separation, multifunctional E‐skin, and advanced fabrics are also reviewed. Finally, this review concludes with the remaining challenges and perspectives for unleashing new possibilities in the development of high‐performance multiple‐responsive cellulose‐based LCs. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e0e359061f6e46c5ba0bf36578a62fc5 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2834-8966 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Responsive Materials |
| spelling | doaj-art-e0e359061f6e46c5ba0bf36578a62fc52025-08-20T03:36:19ZengWileyResponsive Materials2834-89662025-08-0133n/an/a10.1002/rpm2.70020Responsive cellulose nanocrystal‐based liquid crystals: From structural color manipulation to applicationsJiao Liu0Ye‐Ming Qing1Jun‐Jie Wu2Jing‐Qi Tian3Chi‐Bo Feng4Xin‐Yu Zhou5Yun Ma6Bing‐Xiang Li7Yan‐Qing Lu8Quan Li9College of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing ChinaCollege of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing ChinaCollege of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing ChinaCollege of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing ChinaCollege of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing ChinaCollege of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing ChinaCollege of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing ChinaCollege of Electronic and Optical Engineering & College of Flexible Electronics (Future Technology) Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications Nanjing ChinaNational Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures & Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures & College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanjing University Nanjing ChinaInstitute of Advanced Materials & School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Southeast University Nanjing ChinaAbstract Cellulose, one of the most versatile and abundant biopolymers in nature, has been employed by humans for thousands of years in diverse applications, such as renewable energy resources, structural materials, and fabric constituents. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), obtained through the acidic hydrolysis of cellulose‐based materials including wood, cotton, and additional sources, have attracted significant attention in areas, for example, energy storage, cosmetics, and medical devices. CNCs can spontaneously assemble into a cholesteric liquid crystal phase, which exhibits distinctive properties including biodegradability, high surface area, low cost, excellent mechanical strength, and surface functionality. Modifying the surfaces of CNCs or embedding CNCs with other materials enables novel cellulose‐based composites for advanced technologies and applications. This review systematically outlines the preparation of cellulose‐based liquid crystals (LCs), highlights the structural color regulation, photonic properties manipulation, and potential applications. Specifically, stimuli responsiveness, for example, temperature‐responsiveness, humidity‐responsiveness, pressure‐responsiveness, tension‐responsiveness, electricity‐responsiveness, magnetic force‐responsiveness and the optical properties of cellulose‐based LCs (circularly polarized light modulation and circularly polarized phosphorescence properties) are demonstrated. Furthermore, the applications of cellulose‐based LCs for gas detection, anticounterfeiting, multicolor separation, multifunctional E‐skin, and advanced fabrics are also reviewed. Finally, this review concludes with the remaining challenges and perspectives for unleashing new possibilities in the development of high‐performance multiple‐responsive cellulose‐based LCs.https://doi.org/10.1002/rpm2.70020cellulose nanocrystalcholesteric liquid crystalstimuli responsivestructural color |
| spellingShingle | Jiao Liu Ye‐Ming Qing Jun‐Jie Wu Jing‐Qi Tian Chi‐Bo Feng Xin‐Yu Zhou Yun Ma Bing‐Xiang Li Yan‐Qing Lu Quan Li Responsive cellulose nanocrystal‐based liquid crystals: From structural color manipulation to applications Responsive Materials cellulose nanocrystal cholesteric liquid crystal stimuli responsive structural color |
| title | Responsive cellulose nanocrystal‐based liquid crystals: From structural color manipulation to applications |
| title_full | Responsive cellulose nanocrystal‐based liquid crystals: From structural color manipulation to applications |
| title_fullStr | Responsive cellulose nanocrystal‐based liquid crystals: From structural color manipulation to applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Responsive cellulose nanocrystal‐based liquid crystals: From structural color manipulation to applications |
| title_short | Responsive cellulose nanocrystal‐based liquid crystals: From structural color manipulation to applications |
| title_sort | responsive cellulose nanocrystal based liquid crystals from structural color manipulation to applications |
| topic | cellulose nanocrystal cholesteric liquid crystal stimuli responsive structural color |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/rpm2.70020 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jiaoliu responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT yemingqing responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT junjiewu responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT jingqitian responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT chibofeng responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT xinyuzhou responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT yunma responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT bingxiangli responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT yanqinglu responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications AT quanli responsivecellulosenanocrystalbasedliquidcrystalsfromstructuralcolormanipulationtoapplications |