Sustainable Nanocellulose and Nanochitin Materials

 

Nanocellulose/-chitin bionanoparticles (fibrils & whiskers) are emerging for sustainable, mechanical high-performance, functional and bioactive materials. They retain the native crystalline structure and are hardly downgraded from their natural performance level. Cellulose I is among the stiffest natural materials, exceeding steel in terms of specific mechanical properties (E = 140 GPa).

In recent years, we invested significant efforts into the preparation of highest quality nanocellulose/-chitin. Connecting to the different materials programs, we pursue fully renewable, mechanical high-performance bioinspired nanocomposites, as well as applications in the biomaterials field by developing additive fabrication techniques, and  by controlling bioactivity and degradability.