Engineering-safer-by design ZnO nanoparticles incorporated cellulose nanofiber hybrid for high UV protection and low photocatalytic activity with mechanism

Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) is a well-known biocompatible polymer with various versatile characteristics. In recent years, nano-sized materials with high flexibility and biocompatibility that exhibit ultraviolet (UV) blocking properties with maximum dispersion have attracted increasing attention, particularly, materials with photo catalytic activity. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO NP) was synthesized on the surface of CNF to form a hybrid material by an environmentally friendly sol-gel reaction, and the UV blocking properties of the hybrid were systematically explored. The size of the ZnO NP on the CNF surface was optimized to improve the UV blocking performance and the transmittance. The optimized safer-by-design structured hybrid exhibited the following features: 1) improved dispersion stability, 2) low whitening effect and 3) high UV blocking performance (i.e., 3.05 a.u. and 2.80 a.u. in UVB and UVA area, respectively). Moreover, only 8.8% rhodamine B (Rh B) dye degraded through photocatalytic oxidation process (negligible photocatalysis activity). The synthesis strategy of the ZnO-CNF hybrid proposed in this study is a promising approach that can be implemented practically for high value-added applications in the field of cosmetics.

Automated summary

A novel ZnO-CNF hybrid material with enhanced dispersion, low whitening effect, and high UV blocking performance was developed in this study, showing promising applications in the cosmetics field for added value.