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Plant-Based Structures as an Opportunity to Engineer Optical Functions in Next-Generation Light Management
Joice Jaqueline Kaschuk1, Yazan Al Haj2, Orlando J Rojas1,3
1Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, Box 16300, Aalto, Espoo, 00076, Finland.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 26, 2021
Summary
Plant-based materials like cellulose can be engineered for advanced optical properties. This review explores methods to transform structural plant components into functional materials for smart devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Optoelectronics
Background:
- Structural plant components (cellulose, lignin, hemicelluloses) are abundant biopolymers.
- Traditional materials often rely on non-renewable resources.
- Plant-derived materials offer sustainable alternatives for advanced applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review strategies for reconstructing plant structural components into materials with advanced optical properties.
- To explore the role of processing techniques in engineering optical performance.
- To highlight the potential of lignocellulosic materials in optoelectronics and smart devices.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of lignocellulosic building blocks.
- Analysis of processing effects: fibrillation, alignment, densification, self-assembly, surface-patterning, compositing.
- Characterization of optical functionalities: transparency, haze, reflectance, UV-blocking, luminescence, structural colors.
Main Results:
- Various processing methods enable precise control over optical properties.
- Lignocellulosic materials can achieve transparency, structural color, and UV-blocking.
- Sustainable sourcing from industrial/agricultural side streams is feasible.
Conclusions:
- Engineering lignocellulosic materials offers a sustainable route to advanced optical functionalities.
- These materials show promise for cost-effective optoelectronics and smart devices.
- Further research is needed to optimize production and application for plant-based optical materials.
