The Development of Sustainable Nano-Composite Materials

Increasing environmental awareness and growing shortage of fossil resources are prompting scientists and industry to develop bio-sourced materials that have the potential to replace toxic or non-biodegradable materials while offering similar or enhanced properties. Among the available biopolymers, cellulose is both the most abundant and sustainable while possessing outstanding physical properties such as high mechanical resistance and low density. Particularly, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) make attractive building blocks for the design of green nano-composites, particularly thin functional films replacing current petrochemical-resourced polymers in lubrication, 3D printing and sensor applications.
The aim of the project is to explore the chemistry-structure-function relationship of various synthesised forms of CNCs, an exciting new area of research with significant potential industrial application. The student will receive training in a broad spectrum of techniques ranging from AFM, rheology, surface deposition (spin and dip coating), QCM, NMR and spectroscopic techniques available in SPS, alongside working with collaborators at large-scale neutron and X-ray scattering facilities in Oxfordshire and France.