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Structural Color of Partially Deacetylated Chitin Nanowhisker Film Inspired by Jewel Beetle

Authors :
Dagmawi Abebe Zewude
Masaaki Akamatsu
Shinsuke Ifuku
Source :
Materials, Vol 17, Iss 21, p 5357 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Nanochitin was developed to effectively utilize crab shells, a food waste product, and there is ongoing research into its applications. Short nanowhiskers were produced by sonicating partially deacetylated nanochitin in water, resulting in a significant decrease in viscosity due to reduced entanglement of the nanowhiskers. These nanowhiskers self-assembled into a multilayered film through an evaporation technique. The macro- and nanoscale structures within the film manipulate light, producing vibrant and durable structural colors. The dried cast film exhibited green and purple stripes extending from the center to the edge formed by interference effects from the multilayer structure and thickness variations. Preserving structural colors requires maintaining a low ionic strength in the dispersion, as a higher ionic strength reduces electrostatic repulsion between nanofibers, increasing viscosity and potentially leading to the fading of color. This material’s sensitivity to environmental changes, combined with chitin’s biocompatibility, makes it well-suited for food sensors, wherein it can visually indicate freshness or spoilage. Furthermore, chitin’s stable and non-toxic properties offer a sustainable alternative to traditional dyes in cosmetics, delivering vivid and long-lasting color.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
19961944
Volume :
17
Issue :
21
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Materials
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.82e57c68b14f4b688504c633bade3f20
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17215357