The consumption of non-renewable raw materials for construction, digital devices, and other goods is a major environmental problem. Researchers from Aalto University, the University of Turku, the Research Institute of Sweden, and the University of British Columbia, have proposed in an Advanced Materials study that a promising solution may be found in renewable biomass. Specifically, the researchers examined how lignocellulose could be used for optical applications, potentially replacing commonly used materials like sand.
“We wanted to map out as comprehensively as possible how lignocellulose could replace the unrenewable resources found in widely used technology, like smart devices or solar cells,” said Professor Jaana Vapaavuori, a materials scientist at Aalto University in Finland.
Lignocellulose refers to plant biomass, such as that used for the production of biofuels. It encompasses carbohydrate polymers (cellulose and hemicellulose) and an aromatic...