Project description
Nature provides the inspiration for novel natural pigments
Titanium dioxide (TiO2), increasingly in the form of TiO2 nanoparticles, is widely used as a white pigment, especially in creams and lotions. It acts as a UV filter in cosmetics and other products, and can also be found in paints and dyes, paper, plastics and even toothpaste, food and drugs. However, its safe use is increasingly questioned and therefore more natural and sustainable alternatives are needed. Cellulose is a carbohydrate polymer composed of glucose. It is found in all plants and is therefore the most abundant biopolymer on the planet. The EU-funded CelluNANo project sets out to enhance the light-scattering ability of cellulose, elevating it to a natural, safe and sustainable alternative to TiO2.
Objective
Nanomaterials, especially if bio-sourced, have huge promise in a wide range of applications of societal importance to replace inorganic and synthetic counterparts. This is particularly important in the pigment industry, which has long relied on the use of inorganic nanoparticles as scattering enhancers. Now there is a growing demand for natural and sustainable alternatives that avoid the growing concerns over potential long-term health impacts of inorganic materials such as Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles. This proposal aims to harvest the design principles offered by natural nanomaterials to fabricate new highly scattering materials using only biopolymers. By exploiting the most abundant biopolymer on the planet, cellulose, and replicating highly scattering architectures observed in nature, this grant aims to scale up a newly developed generation of scattering enhancers that can completely replace the currently used TiO2 nanoparticles. The ability to control the scattering efficiency of cellulosic material will allow us to produce truly sustainable white enhancers that can find use in everyday application such as cosmetics, food, packaging as well as paints and coatings.
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 inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
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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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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
ERC-POC - Proof of Concept Grant
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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-2020-PoC
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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.
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
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.