Project description
Understanding cellulose’s potential to transform biopolymer processing
Cellulose is biodegradable and strong, but it cannot be processed using conventional thermoplastic methods due to its tendency to decompose before melting, a result of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The ERC-funded LaserCell project aims to transform biopolymer processing by advancing our understanding of cellulose and other biomaterials. The project will use infrared (IR) laser pulses to disrupt cohesive interactions within cellulose at the molecular level, effectively plasticising it by resonantly exciting specific bonds. By delivering short, high-power laser pulses without causing thermal damage, the project will explore how various laser parameters influence cellulose’s supramolecular structure. Additionally, it will develop tools to analyse these changes under mechanical loads, offering new avenues for cellulose-based materials.
Objective
LaserCell envisions an innovative approach to reshape and rearrange cellulose at the molecular level by
disrupting cohesive interactions through resonant excitation of specific bonds. It will revolutionize the field of
biopolymer processing beyond cellulose and yield fundamental insights into supramolecular structure and
dynamics in biomaterials.
Although cellulose is biodegradable and mechanically strong, it cannot be processed by conventional
thermoplastic polymer methods, which limits its use as high-volume material. Cellulose decomposes before it
melts because of cooperative intermolecular hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions. To plasticise
cellulose, I propose to disrupt these intermolecular bonds with photon energy delivered by infrared (IR) laser
pulses. Employing wavelengths matching specific vibrational modes, the photon energy will be resonantly
absorbed, thus effectively plasticising cellulose. I envision that the rapid energy dissipation in short pulses will
deliver enough peak power to disrupt the intermolecular bonds yet avoiding thermal damage.
I plan to systematically investigate how laser parameters influence the supramolecular structure of cellulose
and establish analytical tools to characterize its structural transitions under mechanical load. Additionally, to
allow processability in different set-ups, I aim to prolong the time window of plasticization and adjust the
flowability, by using the laser irradiation in synergy with the hydrogen disrupting molecules. As a proof of
concept, I will implement this novel photo-plasticization technique into a cellulose fibre spinning process and
post-treatment to modulate the cellulose fibre crystallinity.
I have worked for 10 years on cellulose-based materials and have a strong background in fibre spinning and
material science. My research group will engage 1 PhD student and 2 Postdocs with background in polymer
science and laser physics and technology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80333 Muenchen
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.