Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Susete N."
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- Cellulose nanocrystals: mind the microgap in iridescent Cellulose Nanocrystal FilmsPublication . Fernandes, Susete N.; Almeida, Pedro L.; Monge, Nuno; Aguirre, Luis E.; Reis, Dennys; de Oliveira, Cristiano L. P.; Neto, António M. F.; Pieranski, Pawel; Godinho, Maria H.Solid films prepared from cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) present remarkable optical properties: iridescence,[1] selective reflection of left circularly polarized (LCP) light, and transmission of right circularly polarized (RCP) light.[2] The same phenomenon has been observed in certain insect cuticles, for example in the Plusiotis batesi as well as in the Plusiotis optima, where only LCP light is selectively reflected by the cholesteric structure forming the outer exocuticle.[3] In cellulosic films, the adopted left-handed chiral structure is attributed to the self-assembly of nanorods from chiral cellulose.[4] The value of the wavelength of the reflected structure (λ) depends upon the pitch (P) and the average refraction index (n) of the material according to the de Vries expression:
- Rheo-optical characterization of liquid crystalline acetoxypropylcellulose melt undergoing large shear flow and relaxation after flow cessationPublication . Teixeira, Paulo F.; Fernandes, Susete N.; Canejo, João; Godinho, Maria Helena; Covas, José A.; R. Leal, Catarina; Hilliou, LoicThe rheological and structural characteristics of acetoxypropylcellulose (APC) nematic melt are studied at shear rates ranging from 10 s(-1) to 1000 s(-1) which are relevant to extrusion based processes. APC shows a monotonic shear thinning behavior over the range of shear rates tested. The negative extrudate-swell shows a minimum when a critical shear rate (gamma) over dot(c) is reached. For shear rates smaller than (gamma) over dot(c), the flow-induced texture consists of two set of bands aligned parallel and normal to the flow direction. At shear rates larger than (gamma) over dot(c), the flow induced texture is reminiscent of a 2 fluids structure. Close to the shearing walls, domains elongated along the flow direction and stacked along the vorticity are imaged with POM, whereas SALS patterns indicate that the bulk of the sheared APC is made of elliptical domains oriented along the vorticity. No full nematic alignment is achieved at the largest shear rate tested. Below (gamma) over dot(c), the stress relaxation is described by a stretched exponential. Above (gamma) over dot(c), the stress relaxation is described by a fast and a slow process. The latter coincides with the growth of normal bands thicknesses, as the APC texture after flow cessation consists of two types of bands with parallel and normal orientations relative to the flow direction. Both bands thicknesses do not depend on the applied shear rate, in contrast to their orientation. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Structural Color and Iridescence in Transparent Sheared Cellulosic FilmsPublication . Fernandes, Susete N.; Geng, Yong; Vignolini, Silvia; Glover, Beverley J.; Trindade, Ana C.; Canejo, João P.; Almeida, Pedro L.; Brogueira, Pedro; Godinho, Maria HelenaShear transparent cellulose free-standing thin films can develop iridescence similar to that found in petals of the tulip Queen of the Night. The iridescence of the film arises from the modulation of the surface into bands periodically spread perpendicular to the shear direction. Small amounts of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) rods in the precursor liquid-crystalline solutions do not disturb the optical properties of the solutions but enhance the mechanical characteristics of the films and affects their iridescence. Smaller bands periodicity, not affected by the NCC rods, slightly deviated from the shear direction is also observed. NCCs are crucial to tune and understand the film's surface features formation. Our findings could lead to new materials for application in soft reflective screens and devices.