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Title: Transparent, Anisotropic Biofilm with Aligned Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers

Journal Article · · Advanced Functional Materials
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  1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Maryland College Park College Park MD 20742 USA
  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Maryland College Park College Park MD 20742 USA
  3. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The George Washington University Washington DC 20052 USA

Abstract Cellulose nanofibrils are attractive as building blocks for advanced photonic, optoelectronic, microfluidic, and bio‐based devices ranging from transistors and solar cells to fluidic and biocompatible injectable devices. For the first time, an ultrastrong and ultratough cellulose film, which is composed of densely packed bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibrils with hierarchical fibril alignments, is successfully demonstrated. The molecular level alignment stems from the intrinsic parallel orientation of crystalline cellulose molecules produced by Acetobacter xylinum. These aligned long‐chain cellulose molecules form subfibrils with a diameter of 2–4 nm, which are further aligned to form nanofibril bundles. The BC film yields a record‐high tensile strength (≈1.0 GPa) and toughness (≈25 MJ m −3 ). Being ultrastrong and ultratough, yet the BC film is also highly flexible and can be folded into desirable shapes. The BC film exhibits a controllable manner of alignment and is highly transparent with modulated optical properties, paving the way to enabling new functionalities in mechanical, electrical, fluidic, photonics, and biocompatible applications.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
DESC0011912
OSTI ID:
1422424
Journal Information:
Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Functional Materials Vol. 28 Journal Issue: 24; ISSN 1616-301X
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
Germany
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 140 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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