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Paprican/NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Cellulose Properties and Utilization

Research interests: Physical chemistry of cellulosics and wood polymers. Surface properties of fibres and paper. Preparation and properties of novel cellulosics. Liquid crystalline phase separation of cellulosics, and chiroptical properties in dilute solution and in the liquid crystalline state. Chiral nematic order in solid cellulosics, and in the plant cell wall. Relation between chiral properties at the molecular fibrillar and macroscopic levels, including effects on paper curl. Instrumental studies of the chemistry of brightness and reversion. Luminescence spectroscopy of pulp and paper.

Awards: 1994 Anselme Payen Award of the Cellulose, Paper and Textile Div., American Chemical Society

Publications

Publication List [.pdf]

More about research interests

• Liquid crystalline cellulose derivatives
• Liquid crystalline suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals
• Preparation of iridescent films and reflective pigments from cellulose
• Structure of iridescent self-assembled cellulose nanocrystal films
• Films cast from cellulose nanocrystal suspensions make smooth flat model cellulose I surfaces
• Polyelectrolyte multilayers containing cellulose nanocrystals
• Phase equilibrium in nanocrystal suspensions with added polymer
• Quantum dots incorporated in water-dispersible film
• Nucleation of polypropylene crystallization by cellulose nanocrystal surfaces
• Biocidal paper for emergency water purification
• Chiral cellulose structures in plants
• Chiral structure and material properties of cellulose, wood fibres and paper

Research group, Summer 2008, McGill lower campus.