Facile Fabrication of Superhydrophobic and Photoluminescent TEMPO-Oxidized Cellulose-Based Paper for Anticounterfeiting Application

A facile and versatile route to fabricate photoluminescent and robust superhydrophobic dual-functional paper was reported. The approach was based on lanthanide-based nanocrystal/nanotitania-doped cellulose fibers with a well-defined micro-nanohierarchical microstructure. Specifically, the cellulose fibers were first treated with the process of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) oxidation. The treated cellulose was then used as a template for the surface chemical deposition of rare-earth ions and subsequent hydrolysis reaction of tetraethyl titanate forming lanthanide-based nanocrystal/nanotitania-doped cellulose fibers. After paper-making and hydrophobicity treatment, the obtained paper possessed excellent luminescence, superhydrophobic, and self-cleaning properties. This synthesis route designed here has the advantages of mass production of biobased photoluminescent materials for anticounterfeiting applications.