19.6.2025
Doctoral thesis on the applications of cellulose nanomaterials in optics and electronics
M.Sc. (Tech.) Aayush Kumar Jaiswal’s doctoral thesis in Chemical Technology (Natural Materials Technology) will be put forth for public defence at the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University.
The thesis is entitled Novel Value-added Applications for Cellulose Nanomaterials.
The public defence of the doctoral thesis takes place on Friday 27 June 2025 at 1PM in auditorium Argentum, Aurum, Henrikinkatu 2, Turku. You can also follow the doctoral defence online. Professor Julien Bras, Grenoble Institute of Technology, France, will serve as opponent and Professor Martti Toivakka, Åbo Akademi University, as custos.
Summary
We are facing the biggest global crisis of the 21st century in the form of anthropogenic climate change. Green transition has been heralded as a key climate change mitigation effort, implying transitioning away from a fossil fuel-based economy towards an ecologically sustainable one. Nature offers us an abundant, renewable, and climate-neutral resource in the form of lignocellulosic biomass. However, the available bioresources must be utilized carefully to preserve natural habitats and biodiversity. Therefore, it is critical to explore application areas for lignocellulosic biomass where low material use can yield high derived value.
This thesis investigates the applications of cellulose nanomaterials in two such fields, namely optics and electronics. The work showcases how cellulose nanomaterials can be processed into smart optical films suitable for thermal sensing and passive energy-saving windows. Furthermore, it demonstrates how high-performance, flexible, printable, and biodegradable substrates for electronic devices can be engineered from cellulose nanomaterials. The thesis also introduces novel cellulose optical fibers for moisture and water sensing, with potential in healthcare and diagnostics. Each novel application is demonstrated through prototype devices. This work paves the way towards a sustainable future where cellulose-based materials are not merely alternatives, but preferred solutions touching our daily lives.
Aayush Kumar Jaiswal was born in 1995 in Dehradun, India. He can be reached by email aayush.jaiswal@abo.fi.
The doctoral thesis can be read online through the Doria publication archive.
Click here for a press photo of the doctoral student.
Instructions for following the doctoral defence remotely:
To follow the defence, you need the Zoom software or the Google Chrome browser. You do not need to create a Zoom account to follow the defence. If you install the application, you participate by clicking on the meeting link, after which you should allow the link to open in the Zoom app.