Enhanced Multifunctionality of Cellulose Paper via Conjugating with Photocontrollable Profragrances

Multifunctional paper-based materials have garnered considerable attention due to their biodegradability, cost-effectiveness, recyclability, and flexibility. However, they often face intrinsic wettability, microbial growth, and thermal instability. Herein, we developed an innovative multifunctional cellulose paper by covalently conjugating with coumarin-based photocontrollable profragrances. The synthesized profragrances exhibited enhanced thermal stability, precise photocontrol, and sustainable release properties. Subsequently, the cellulose paper achieved significantly ultrahigh conjugation than those observed with physical modification of fragrances or profragrances, ensuring robust adhesion and preventing wash-out. Additionally, the incorporation of hydrophobic profragrances enhanced the hydrophobicity of the multifunctional paper, yielding a water contact angle exceeding 95°. The chemical modification remarkably improved thermal stability compared to the physical modification. Ultimately, the novel cellulose paper exhibited photocontrollable pleasant aroma and demonstrated high antibacterial activity, which significantly enhanced bioactive availability during use and stability during storage, suggesting its great potential for food packaging, air clearing, mold prevention, and anticounterfeiting.