A5036584598- Wood Treatment and Properties
- Advanced Cellulose Research Studies
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Natural Fiber Reinforced Composites
- Lignin and Wood Chemistry
- Advanced Materials and Mechanics
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Polymer composites and self-healing
- Advanced Sensor and Energy Harvesting Materials
- Building materials and conservation
- Surface Modification and Superhydrophobicity
- Plant and Biological Electrophysiology Studies
- Polysaccharides Composition and Applications
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Pickering emulsions and particle stabilization
- Bamboo properties and applications
- Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis
- Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Forest ecology and management
- Material Properties and Processing
- Plant Gene Expression Analysis
- Adhesion, Friction, and Surface Interactions
- Silk-based biomaterials and applications
- Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
ETH Zurich
2016-2025
Institute of Wood Science and Technology
2015-2025
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
2015-2024
Institute for Biomedical Engineering
2014-2022
Inspire
2018
Charles Humbert 8
2017
Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration
2017
Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces
2006-2016
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
2014-2016
Max Planck Society
2004-2013
The dispersal unit of wild wheat bears two pronounced awns that balance the as it falls. We discovered are also able to propel seeds on and into ground. arrangement cellulose fibrils causes bending with changes in humidity. Silicified hairs cover allow propulsion only direction seeds. This suggests dead tissue is analogous a motor. Fueled by daily humidity cycle, induce motility required for seed dispersal.
Abstract Xyloglucans are the main hemicellulosic polysaccharides found in primary cell walls of dicots and nongraminaceous monocots, where they thought to interact with cellulose form a three-dimensional network that functions as principal load-bearing structure wall. To determine whether two Arabidopsis thaliana genes encode xylosyltransferases, XXT1 XXT2, involved xyloglucan biosynthesis vivo how plant wall is affected by lack expression XXT1, or both, we isolated characterized xxt1 xxt2...
Abstract Nowadays, energy-saving building materials are important for reducing indoor energy consumption by enabling better thermal insulation, promoting effective sunlight harvesting and offering comfortable lighting. Here, we demonstrate a novel scalable aesthetic transparent wood (called hereafter) with combined features (e.g. intact patterns), excellent optical properties (an average transmittance of ~ 80% haze 93%), good UV-blocking ability, low conductivity (0.24 W m −1 K ) based on...
Turning wood into honeycombs Wood is an attractive material for structural applications, but it usually works best as boards or sheets. Xiao et al . have developed a process engineering hardwood that allows these sheets to be manipulated complex structures (see the Perspective by Tajvidi and Gardner). The key manipulate cell wall structure shrinking blasting open fibers vessels drying “water-shocking” them. This creates window wherein can without ripping tearing. Honeycomb, corrugated, other...
Today's materials research aims at excellent mechanical performance in combination with advanced functionality. In this regard, great progress has been made tailoring the by assembly processes bottom-up approaches. field of wood-derived materials, nanocellulose gained increasing attention, and properties were developed. However, there are still unresolved issues concerning upscaling for large-scale applications. Alternatively, sophisticated hierarchical scaffold wood can be utilized a...
Developing low-cost and biodegradable piezoelectric nanogenerators is of great importance for a variety applications, from harvesting low-grade mechanical energy to wearable sensors. Many the most widely used materials, including lead zirconate titanate (PZT), suffer serious drawbacks such as complicated synthesis, poor properties (e.g., brittleness), toxic composition, limiting their development biomedical applications posing environmental problems disposal. Here, we report low-cost,...
The applicability of advanced composite materials with hierarchical structure that conjugate metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) macroporous is commonly limited by their inferior mechanical properties. Here, a universal green synthesis method for the in situ growth MOF nanocrystals within wood substrates introduced. Nucleation sites different types MOFs are readily created sodium hydroxide treatment, which demonstrated to be broadly applicable species. resulting MOF/wood exhibits porosity 130...
Abstract Ecologically friendly wood electronics will help alleviating the shortcomings of state-of-art cellulose-based “green electronics”. Here we introduce iron-catalyzed laser-induced graphitization (IC-LIG) as an innovative approach for engraving large-scale electrically conductive structures on with very high quality and efficiency, overcoming limitations conventional LIG including ablation, thermal damages, need multiple lasing steps, use fire retardants inert atmospheres. An aqueous...
It is hard to imagine with the progress in robotics that current approaches are lacking somewhere, yet they will not be applicable majority of robots near future. We on verge two new transitions transform robotics. One already under way -- miniaturization robots, point where invisible, microscopic could around us and inside us, performing monitoring or even life-saving functions. have seen systematic bio-inspired efforts create microbe-like, robots. The trend has parallels electronics...
Abstract The nanowatt‐level power density of current biobased piezoelectric energy harvesters restricts their applicative potential for the efficient conversion biomechanical energy. A high‐performing, fully renewable device incorporating green piezo‐active Rochelle salt in a laser‐drilled wood template is demonstrated to form ordered crystal pillar arrays by melt crystallization. Investigating effect different configurations on response, shearing design (45°‐oriented pillars) shows up 30 V...
Plants are hierarchically organized in a way that their macroscopic properties emerge from micro- and nanostructural level. Hence, micromechanical investigations, which focus on the mechanical design of plant cell walls, well suited for elucidating details relationship between form function. However, due to complex nature primary secondary tests entire structure cannot provide exact values polymer but must be targeted at general mechanisms wall deformation interaction. The success...
Plant stems are one of nature's most impressive mechanical constructs. Their sophisticated hierarchical structure and multifunctionality allow trees to grow more than 100 m tall. This review highlights the advanced design plant from integral level stem structures down fiber-reinforced-composite character cell walls. Thereby we intend not only provide insight into structure-function relationships at individual levels hierarchy but further discuss how growth forms habits closely interrelated...
The feasibility of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) microscopy to monitor in situ the enzymatic degradation wood was investigated. Cross-sections poplar were treated with cellulase Onozuka RS within a custom-built fluidic cell. Light-optical micrographs and FT-IR spectra acquired from normal tension fibers. showed almost complete removal gelatinous (G) layer wood. No structural spectral changes observed lignified cell walls. accessibility cellulose wall found be main limiting factor,...
Research on the deformation mechanisms of tendons and wood has shown that these tissues deform mostly by shearing a soft matrix between stiff fibres. For this type composite to be both strong tough, tight binding fibres is required. Recent results suggest Nature may have evolved special interface polymers, capable forming matrix. Proteoglycans could play role in collagen fibrils with their protein-like ends an aqueous sugar-like ends. Hemicelluloses similar plant cell wall, as they are...
Plant cells are encased by a cellulose-containing wall that is essential for plant morphogenesis. Cellulose consists of β-1,4-linked glucan chains assembled into paracrystalline microfibrils synthesized plasma membrane–located cellulose synthase (CESA) complexes. Associations with hemicelluloses important microfibril spacing and maintaining cell tensile strength. Several components associated synthesis have been identified; however, the biological functions many them remain elusive. We show...
Plants use the orientation of cellulose microfibrils to create cell walls with anisotropic properties related specific functions. This enables organisms control shape and size cells during growth, adjust mechanical performance tissues, perform bending movements organs. We review key function in defining structural–functional relationships from a biomechanics perspective, illustrate this by examples mainly our own work. First, primary cell-wall expansion largely depends on organization newly...
Sustainable societies require the development of engineered hybrid materials. Bio-inspired mineralization wood cell wall architecture with calcium carbonate offers a green alternative to conventional fire-retardant systems.