Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 13, 2026

Towards Biomimicking Wood: Fabricated Free-standing Films of Nanocellulose, Lignin, and a Synthetic Polycation
Published on: June 17, 2014
A Janus-type cellulose-based composite mulch film with light management for sustainable agriculture
1Functional Nanomaterials Laboratory, Center for Micro/Nanomaterials and Technology, and Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
Abstract:
Conventional polyethylene mulch films cause severe "white pollution," while existing biodegradable alternatives either pose ecological risks or suffer from limited functionality, making it difficult to simultaneously achieve the dual agronomic requirements of high reflectance for yield enhancement and low transmittance for weed suppression. A Janus-type light-managing cellulose-based composite mulch film (JCMF) was fabricated via a facile vacuum-assisted self-assembly followed by hot-pressing. The film consists of an upper reflective layer (RL) containing hydrophobic Al2O3 and a lower light-blocking layer (LBL) loaded with biochar, for the first time integrating active agronomic light management in a biodegradable mulch film. The optimized JCMF30 exhibited a synergy of high visible-light reflectance (90.1 ± 0.7%), low visible-light transmittance (0.57 ± 0.12%), high tensile strength (29.8 ± 4 MPa), and high hydrophobicity (140.3 ± 1.8°), along with an appropriate water vapor transmission rate (WVTR, 473.5 ± 9.9 g·(m2·24 h)-1. Accelerated aging and soil burial tests further confirmed that JCMF30 possesses excellent weatherability and a favorable degradation rate (72.1 ± 3.3% weight loss after 135 d). This study provides a new paradigm for developing next-generation agricultural mulch films that integrate active agronomic light management with environmental friendliness.
More Related Videos
13:38Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
Published on: May 10, 2013
07:25Green and Low-cost Production of Thermally Stable and Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals and Nanofibrils Using Highly Recyclable Dicarboxylic Acids
Published on: January 9, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Bioplastics
Cellulose and Pectic Polysaccharides
As a cell matures, its cell wall specializes according to its type. For example, the parenchyma cells of...
Wood Products
Glue-laminated wood, often referred to as glulam, combines multiple smaller pieces of dimensional lumber using adhesives to form a single, larger piece. Cross-laminated timber consists...
Wood Panel Products
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Light Acquisition