Near-infrared (NIR) transparent optical filters show great promise in night vision and receiving windows. However, NIR optical filters are generally prepared by laborious, environmentally unfriendly processes that inv...Near-infrared (NIR) transparent optical filters show great promise in night vision and receiving windows. However, NIR optical filters are generally prepared by laborious, environmentally unfriendly processes that involve metal oxides or petroleum-based polymers. We propose a lignin capturing–fusing approach to manufacturing optical biofilters based on molecular collaboration between lignin and cellulose from waste agricultural biomass. In this process, lignin is captured via self-assembly in a cellulose network;then, the lignin is fused to fill gaps and hold the cellulose fibers tightly. The resulting optical biofilter featured a dense structure and smooth surface with NIR transmittance of ~90%, ultralow haze of close to 0%, strong ultraviolet-visible light blocking (~100% at 400 nm and 57.58% to 98.59% at 550 nm). Further, the optical biofilter has comprehensive stability, including water stability, solvent stability, thermal stability, and environmental stability. Because of its unique properties, the optical biofilter demonstrates potential applications in the NIR region, such as an NIR-transmitting window, NIR night vision, and privacy protection. These applications represent a promising route to produce NIR transparent optical filters starting from lignocellulose biomass waste.展开更多
基金This research was undertaken with funding from Hubei Provincial Universities Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Technological Innovation Team Project (grant no. T201205)the Foundation of Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, Qilu University of Technology (grant no. KF201623)+1 种基金C.C. acknowledges the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 52273091)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (grant no. 2042022kf1177)' the start-up fund from Wuhan University (grant no. 691000003).
文摘Near-infrared (NIR) transparent optical filters show great promise in night vision and receiving windows. However, NIR optical filters are generally prepared by laborious, environmentally unfriendly processes that involve metal oxides or petroleum-based polymers. We propose a lignin capturing–fusing approach to manufacturing optical biofilters based on molecular collaboration between lignin and cellulose from waste agricultural biomass. In this process, lignin is captured via self-assembly in a cellulose network;then, the lignin is fused to fill gaps and hold the cellulose fibers tightly. The resulting optical biofilter featured a dense structure and smooth surface with NIR transmittance of ~90%, ultralow haze of close to 0%, strong ultraviolet-visible light blocking (~100% at 400 nm and 57.58% to 98.59% at 550 nm). Further, the optical biofilter has comprehensive stability, including water stability, solvent stability, thermal stability, and environmental stability. Because of its unique properties, the optical biofilter demonstrates potential applications in the NIR region, such as an NIR-transmitting window, NIR night vision, and privacy protection. These applications represent a promising route to produce NIR transparent optical filters starting from lignocellulose biomass waste.