Checkered Films of Multiaxis Oriented Nanocelluloses by Liquid-Phase Three-Dimensional Patterning

Abstract

It is essential to build multiaxis oriented nanocellulose films in the plane for developing thermal or optical management films. However, using conventional orientation techniques, it is difficult to align nanocelluloses in multiple directions within the plane of single films rather than in the thickness direction like the chiral nematic structure. In this study, we developed the liquid-phase three-dimensional (3D) patterning technique by combining wet spinning and 3D printing. Using this technique, we produced a checkered film with multiaxis oriented nanocelluloses. This film showed similar retardation levels, but with orthogonal molecular axis orientations in each checkered domain as programmed. The thermal transport was enhanced in the domain with the oriented pattern parallel to the heat flow. This liquid-phase 3D patterning technique could pave the way for bottom-up design of differently aligned nanocellulose films to develop sophisticated optical and thermal materials.

Keywords

• nanofiber alignment
• birefringence
• retardation
• thermal transport