Visualizing the Electric Field-Modulated Cellulose Nanocrystal Films by Mueller Matrix Microscopy

The chiral organization of biomaterials can facilitate understanding of the chiral formation in nature. The microstructures of naturally occurring cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films can be feasibly manipulated with a tuned alternating current (AC) electric field. We have unveiled the electric field-manipulated structures of CNC films using Mueller matrix microscopy and confirmed the three-dimensional (3D) microstructures through optical simulation. A detailed physical model was developed for the impact of electric fields on the growth of CNC films, validating the strong effects of intensity and the insignificant impact of frequency. Moreover, we demonstrated that the aspect ratio of CNCs can profoundly impact the resulting microstructures of the films under an AC electric field. Our exploration of electric-field-tuned microstructures in complex assemblies has provided valuable insights into the understanding of chiral films and fine-manipulating CNC-based structures.