Cellulose-based value-added applications: humidity sensors and wearable electronics

加拿大的纸浆和造纸工业在加拿大经济中发挥着重要作用。一些传统纸制品，如新闻纸和印刷/书写纸的使用量正在下降。以纤维素为原料开发新的增值产品至关重要。基于纤维素的增值产品在造纸工业中被称为“特种纸等级”，其包括从玻璃纸到绝缘纸的许多产品。随着公众和政府对可持续发展的强烈需求，特种纸（纸基智能材料/产品）将继续增加。 倪博士研究项目的长期愿景是通过开发新型纤维素产品来支持加拿大林业产业的竞争优势。这种研究活动不仅为传统林业部门提供了新的机会，而且也满足了对绿色/可持续发展的需求。在本次Discovery Grant中，倪博士将重点关注纤维素基智能材料--湿度传感器/执行器的研发，这类材料又属于另一种特种纸。倪博士和他的团队将联合收割机工程原理与化学、材料科学、先进的表征工具和模拟/理论分析相结合，以产生深入的见解，从而能够开发出目标产品。该研究计划的三个“短期”目标是：1）将生产纤维素基湿度传感器/致动器的工艺概念与造纸工艺相结合; 2）开发极高灵敏度的纤维素湿度传感器，以满足高价值应用，如仿生和光学开关等; 3）生产高透明度的基于纤维素的湿度传感器/致动器，应用于隐形机器人和仿生皮肤等需要巧妙伪装的领域。 通过拟议的研究培训的HQP将获得不仅与工程原理有关的技能，而且与沟通和领导有关。毕业后，这些HQP将准备进入工业界和学术界。正如倪博士过去的记录所证明的那样，拟议的研究不仅将导致与木质纤维素材料及其加工相关的基础知识的进步，而且还将带来可以转移到工业实践中的新技术，从而提高加拿大纸浆和造纸工业的经济/社会重要性，该工业植根于从东海岸到西海岸的许多社区。

The Canadian pulp and paper industry plays an important role in the Canadian economy. Use of some traditional paper products, e.g. newsprint and printing/writing paper, is declining. Development of new and value-added products from cellulose as a raw material is critical. Cellulose-based value-added products are known in the paper industry as "specialty paper grades", which include many products, from glassine paper to insulating paper. With the strong demand for sustainable development from the general public and government, specialty paper (paper-based smart materials/products) will continue to increase. The long-term vision of Dr. Ni's research program is to support the Canadian forestry industry's competitive advantage by developing novel cellulose-based products. Such research activities not only present new opportunities for the traditional forest sector, but also meet demands for green/sustainable development. In this Discovery Grant, Dr. Ni will focus on the development of cellulose-based smart materials-humidity sensors/actuators, which fall into another kind of specialty paper. Dr. Ni and his team will combine engineering principles with chemistry, material science, advanced characterization tools, and simulation/theoretical analyses to generate deep insights that will enable the development of targeted products. The three "short- term" objectives of the research program are to: 1) Integrate process concepts for the production of cellulose-based humidity sensors/actuators with the paper manufacturing processes; 2) Develop extremely high-sensitivity cellulose humidity sensors to meet high-value applications, such as biomimicry and optical switches, among others; 3) Produce high- transparency cellulose based humidity sensors/actuators, with such applications as invisible robots and bionic skins, and other fields that require clever camouflage. HQP trained through the proposed research will gain skills not only related to engineering principles, but also related to communication and leadership. Upon graduation, these HQP will be ready to enter the industry and academia. As proven from Dr. Ni's past track record, the proposed research will not only lead to advances in the fundamental knowledge related to lignocellulosic materials and their processing, but also new technologies that can be transferred to industrial practices, thus enhancing the economic/social importance of the Canadian pulp and paper industry, which has roots in many communities from the east to west coasts.