Authors: Kevin E. Shopsowitz, Hao Qi, Wadood Y. Hamad, and Mark J. MacLachlan, University of British Columbia
A research team at the University of British Columbia led by Professor Mark MacLachlan reported a method to prepare mesoporous silica templated using the chiral helical structure of nanocrysalline cellulose. The films exhibit irridescent colours due to the structure of the cellulose, which can be tuned across the visible spectrum by varing the synthetic conditions. The use of nanocrystalline cellulose offers great potential as a very inexpensive, naturally abundant template.
Reprinted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Nature, doi:10.1038/nature09540, copyright 2010.
Media coverage:
CBC News: B.C. scientists make colour-changing glass
Vancouver Sun: B.C. wood pulp could be key to new form of glass
Nature News & Views: Thin films with a hidden twist
UPDATE: Dr. MacLachlan was interviewed on CBC’s Quirks and Quarks! Here is a link to the MP3: http://cbc.ca/quirks/media/2010-2011/qq-2010-12-04_05.mp3