Project description
Light-reflective cellulose-based particles support the pigments and dyes sector
The pigments and dyes industry often uses toxic chemicals that are harmful to people and the environment. The search is on for more natural and sustainable alternatives and the European Research Council-funded PixCell project may have an answer. Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, the key component of plant cell walls that is also synthesised by a variety of bacteria. PixCell will develop a large-scale fabrication method for its cellulose-based photonic pigments. The pioneering micron-sized spherical particles composed of naturally derived cellulose nanocrystals can form dry microparticles capable of reflecting specific colours of light. Funding will help the team bring this sustainable, biocompatible alternative to market.
Objective
The objective of the proposal is to develop a process for large-scale fabrication of a novel class of cellulose-based photonic pigments, which will replace traditional, potentially hazardous colorants that are currently used in industry for cosmetics, food, textiles and security labelling. These novel photonic pigments consist of micron-sized spherical particles composed of naturally-derived cellulose nanocrystals. Within the remit of the ERC StG SeSaMe, it has been demonstrated that cellulose nanocrystals can self-assemble in aqueous droplets, forming dry microparticles, where the crystals are organised in chiral nematic ordered shells, capable of reflecting light of a specific colour.
Scaling up the fabrication of such photonic cellulose pigments will allow to manufacture a truly sustainable, biocompatible and potentially edible alternative to conventional synthetic dyes for mass-market applications.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- engineering and technology materials engineering colors
- engineering and technology materials engineering synthetic dyes
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials nanocrystals
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nanophotonics
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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-2017-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.