OCCA Weekly Webinar - Alternatives to TiO2
Venue: Webinar
Date: Wednesday 20th July 2022
Time: 14:30 – 15:30
Our Series 7 of OCCA Weekly Webinars continues with "Sustainable colours inspired by nature - Alternatives to TiO2" presented by Dr Lukas Schertel of Impossible Materials. The webinar will take place via Zoom on Wednesday 20 July at 2:30pm. This webinar is free to attend, simply register below and you'll receive further details & joining instructions in due course.
Abstract:
Structuring material at the scale of the wavelength of light to control light–matter interactions is essential for the fabrication of next-generation paints and coatings. Nature can serve as a source of inspiration for structured materials but also as a primary source of biomaterials. Fibrillar cellulose can mimic natural optimized scattering systems such as the network structure found in the Cyphochilus beetle. Its lightweight, 5μm thin scales serve as nature's strongest scattering material, creating the brightest white on the smallest scale. We develop brilliantly white pigments from cellulose, as an alternative to titanium dioxide the most widely used white pigment. Regulators in Europe are banning the use of TiO2 in health sensitive segments forcing a shift towards sustainable alternatives.
Speaker Profile
Dr Lukas Schertel, CEO & Co-founder, Impossible Materials
After his PhD in physics (University of Zurich), Lukas joined the Bio-inspired photonics group (Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge), working on sustainable photonic pigments. Since 2020 Lukas focuses on spinning out the startup company 'Impossible Materials', with the aim to commercialize cellulose-based white pigments as an alternative to titanium dioxide.
