title: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as carriers for a spirooxazine dye and its effect on photochromic efficiency.
abstract: Nanocrystalline cellulose (CNC) as a renewable/sustainable material, has received much attention. Herein we studied CNC as carriers for a hydrophobic spirooxazine (SO)-based dye, 1,3-dihydro-1,3,3-trimethylspiro[2H-indole-2,3'-[3H]naphtha[2,1-b][1,4]oxazine], which may have potential applications in reversible memory photo-devices, textiles, photo-sensitive paper coatings, and inkjet printing inks. Due to the high cost and water-insolubility of this dye, it is desirable to improve its coloration efficiency and water-dispersibility. The experimental approach was to use CNC as carriers for the SO dye, thus obtaining a stable photochromic dye in aqueous systems. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation confirmed that the SO dye adsorbed on the surface of the CNC, which functioned as carriers for the photochromic dye. An impregnation process was adopted to anchor the dye onto cellulosic paper. It was found that the use of CNC resulted in a significant improvement in the SO coloration efficiency. The color stability and fatigue resistance were also studied. The use of CNC as carriers for a hydrophobic compound, its enhancement of associated properties, and its subsequent application were demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre and Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5A3.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China. Electronic address: qingxihou@tust.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qingxi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre and Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5A3.
authors.forename: Zhibin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
authors.forename: Zehua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre and Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5A3. Electronic address: yonghao@unb.ca.
authors.forename: Yonghao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D010078:Oxazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D010078:Oxazines; D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Carriers; Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC); Coloration efficiency; Hydrophobic compound; Photochromic dye