Bio-Inspired Cellulose Composites With Multicolor Separation via Electro-Thermal and Magneto-Thermal Techniques for Multifunctional Applications

Biomimetic optical devices based on cellulose nanocrystals with tunable structural colors have received significant attention recently. However, the limited ability to control multicolor separation beyond simple single-color modulation restricts its practical applications. Here, a diversified multicolor separation strategy for the cholesteric phase cellulose composite (CPCC) is presented. The CPCC is prepared by integrating a high-concentration self-assembled hydroxypropyl cellulose with a cross-linked poly(acrylic acid-acrylamide) (P(AA-AM)) network. By adjusting the cross-linking degree of P(AA-AM) in CPCC, Thermally induced multicolor separation is achieved from a homochromatic state at room temperature to multicolor patterned display at elevated temperatures. Furthermore, by utilizing the electric heating effect of conductive carbon oil, the multicolor separation under low voltage is achieved, and based on this, pixelated electro-thermochromic displays are developed. Additionally, magneto-thermal multicolor separation induced by introducing FeNi₃ nanoparticles is investigated with efficient magnetic induction heating ability into CPCC. The multicolor separation effect is further improved by pixelated distribution of FeNi₃ nanoparticles and adjusting the concentration of FeNi₃ in each pixel. Finally, thermochromism, electro-thermochromic, and magneto-thermochromic functionalities are integrated into the CPCC, achieving advanced multilevel information encryption. This multilevel approach of controlling multicolor separation significantly enhances the functionality of nanocellulose in various potential photonic applications.