University of Colorado

Andrew J Hess

Ivan I Smalyukh

Blaise Fleury

Vladyslav Cherpak

Bohdan Senyuk

Eldho Abraham

Joshua A De La Cruz

Qingkun Liu

Quingkun Liu

Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels. Further disclosed are highly transparent and flexible cellulose nanofiber-polysiloxane composite aerogels featuring enhanced mechanical robustness, tunable optical anisotropy, and low thermal conductivity. Further disclosed are gels comprising cellulosic material derived from bacteria and processes for preparing bacterial cellulose gels and methods of use.

Bacterial cellulose gels, process for producing and methods for use

Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible aerogels and xerogels containing bacterial cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. Further disclosed are highly transparent and flexible cellulose nanofiber-polysiloxane composite aerogels featuring enhanced mechanical robustness, tunable optical anisotropy, and low thermal conductivity.

Cellulosic gels, films and composites including the gels, and methods of forming same

Materials that can be templated by one or more of biological material and biologically-derived material, structures including such materials, and methods of forming and using the materials and structures are disclosed. Exemplary materials and structures can be used to reflect, polarize and/or retard electromagnetic radiation.

Templated materials, structures including the materials, and methods of using and forming same

Disclosed are cellulose-based flexible gels containing cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, and cellulose-enabled inorganic or polymeric composites, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. The disclosed gels are in the form of hydrogels, organogels, liquid-crystal (LC) gels, and aerogels, depending on the solvents in the gels.

Cellulose-enabled orientationally ordered flexible gels

Disclosed are cellulose-based 5 flexible aerogels and xerogels containing bacterial cellulose nanorods, ribbons, fibers, and the like, wherein the gels have tunable optical, heat transfer, and stiffness properties. Further disclosed are highly transparent and flexible cellulose nanofiber-polysiloxane composite aerogels featuring enhanced mechanical robustness, tunable optical anisotropy, and low thermal conductivity.

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Louisville, CO, United States of America

Andrew J Hess