By drawing inspiration from the designs of nature, ASCC researchers have created nanocellulose materials that mirror the qualities and characteristics of structures found in nature. These nanocellulose materials offer a number of advantages, improving the thermal stability, enhancing the mechanical strength of the composite, and creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly material. Using bio-based nanocellulose materials as feedstock is both renewable and sustainable: it contributes to the development of environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional materials. Bioinspired designs promote sustainable practices within a variety of industries, like engineering and construction.
Xianhui Zhao, Samarthya Bhagia, Diego Gomez-Maldonado, Xiaomin Tang, Sanjita Wasti, Shun Lu, Shuyang Zhang, Mahesh Parit, Mitchell L. Rencheck, Matthew Korey, Huixin Jiang, Jiadeng Zhu, Xianzhi Meng, Meghan E. Lamm, Katie Copenhaver, Maria S. Peresin, Lu Wang, Halil Tekinalp, Guang Yang, Vipin Kumar, Gang Chen, Kashif Nawaz, X. Chelsea Chen, Uday Vaidya, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Erin Webb, Douglas J. Gardner, Ping He, Ximin He, Kai Li, Soydan Ozcan
Nature provides lots of inspiration for material and structural design for various applications. Deriving design principles from the investigation of nature can provide a rich source of inspiration for the development of multifunctional materials. The bioinspired design templates mainly include mussels, nacre, and various plant species. As a sustainable and renewable feedstock, nanocellulose can be used to fabricate advanced materials with multifunctional properties through bioinspired designs. However, challenges and opportunities remain for realizing the full potential in the design of novel materials. This article reviewed recent development in the bioinspired nanocellulose based materials and their application. This article summarizes the functions (e.g., surface wetting) and applications (e.g., composite) of bioinspired nanocellulose-based materials. The bioinspired design templates are discussed along with strategies, advantages, and challenges to the development of synthetic mimics. Additionally, mechanisms and processes (e.g., chemical modification, self-assembly) leading to biomimetic design are discussed. Finally, future research directions and opportunities of bioinspired nanocellulose-based materials are highlighted.
Advanced Structures & Composites Center