Construction of a multi-scale hierarchical filament for advanced identifiable textile

Abstract

The structural coloration arising from the orderly arrangement of nanoparticles has garnered significant interest. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) represent a form of liquid crystal capable of self-assembling into cholesteric configurations as their concentration increases. The distinct morphology and surface functionalities of CNCs give rise to diverse self-assembly architectures. Nonetheless, the challenge persists in fabricating successive fibrous materials that exhibit long-range ordered structures while maintaining processable mechanical characteristics. Herein, a precursor spinning solution was injected into microtubules via a syringe pump and introduced into a coagulation bath containing Ca²⁺ ions at a regulated flow rate, resulting in multi-scale filaments composed of CNC and alginate. Experimental evaluations and computational modeling reveal that enhanced cross-linking interactions between oxalic acid-derived CNCs and calcium ions significantly improve the tensile properties of the resulting filaments, achieving a maximum tensile strength of approximately 140 MPa. The innovative topological configuration of the filaments endows them with coordinability and polarization-based encryption capabilities, positioning them as promising candidates for advanced textile applications aimed at directed signal transmission or identification.