Noora Yau
Shimmering Wood
Experimenting with nanocellulose-based structural colour
100532
Structural colour refers to the colouring that arises from the interaction of light with nanostructures. For example, the vivid, shiny, metallic-looking blue colour on the surface of morpho butterflies’ wing is created when light interacts with nanostructures, resulting in the perception of colour by the human eye. Shiny and glittery colour effects are linked to structural colours; however, they are often produced using materials made from metals, plastics, minerals or their combinations. The need for renewable, environmentally friendly colourants is growing, and in this context, the possibility of making bio-based structural colours has also received attention.
In this thesis, nanocellulose-based structural colour (CNC SC) has been developed through collaboration between design and materials science, focusing on the aesthetics and appearance of CNC SC, as well as its potential as a future colourant for designers and artists. This collaboration aims to examine CNC SC comprehensively, considering both its technical features and sensory aspects, such as aesthetics and appearance.
The core findings of the thesis involve making the terminology related to structural colour accessible to designers and artists, as well as introducing a more holistic perspective onto the material development process at a practical level.