Multifunctional cellulose nanocrystal structural colored film with good flexibility and water-resistance

Chiral nematic cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) structural colored materials are the focus of extensive research in recent years on account of their unique helical structure and excellent optical properties . However, the general weak mechanical properties and poor water-resistance of CNC limit its utility. Here, we fabricated highly flexible, water-resistant chiral nematic CNC/Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate(PEGDA) composite films , which was realized by co-assembling CNC and PEGDA precursor then via UV curing to construct a three-dimensional crosslinking network. Due to the water stimulus-responsive feature of the CNC and PEGDA, the CNC/PEGDA (8/2) composite film could be used as a water-content detector, photonic paper. In addition, it could produce different crosslinking degrees by coating the PEGMA solution or not, which could be applied to an anti-counterfeit label. The composite film with excellent stability of cycles is expected to be a promising candidate in optical sensors, display, and security fields.