Multiple anisotropy of cellulose nanocrystals self-organized into disc-shaped particles

We fabricated a disc-shaped particulate composite based on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) via a self-organized precipitation method. The disc-shaped particles had a structure with CNCs segregated in the outer region. The disc-shaped particulate composite also shows a higher refractive index in the direction perpendicular to the disc surface. This means that this particle system has "double" anisotropy: spatially and optically. Moreover, the disc orientation can be manipulated by the application of AC.