Self-Assemblies Bridging the Length Scales for Biomimetic and Functional Materials
Speaker
Ahu Gumrah Dumanli-Parry
University of Manchester
Abstract
The Energy Transition for the Chemicals and Materials Industry
Cellulose photonics is an emerging field at the intersection of soft matter physics, optics, and sustainable materials science. It explores how cellulose-based materials, both colloidal and polymeric, can be structured across multiple length scales to manipulate light through interference and birefringence, producing vibrant structural colours without pigments. These photonic effects arise from the self-assembly of cellulose into cholesteric liquid crystalline phases and the light interference from the helicoidal architectures with periodicities in the visible range, offering a biodegradable and scalable alternative to conventional colour forming mechanisms.
In this talk, I will explore how we use cellulose-based systems to create colourful, functional materials through evaporation-driven self-assembly, 3Dprinting, and soft confinement. I will first introduce our work on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), which form left-handed cholesteric mesophases in highly concentrated aqueous suspensions which can be retained in film form upon drying. I will discuss how the droplet drying process governs the final structure, and how mass transport, concentration gradients, and particle flow influence the self-assembly, pattern formation and the optical response.
I will also introduce our work on hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), a water-soluble derivative of cellulose that forms right-handed cholesteric phases. I will show how HPC serves as a model system for mechanochromic, printable, and edible photonic materials. I’ll present examples where we exploit flow-induced alignment through 3d printing, elastomeric confinement, and doctor blading to induce hierarchical ordering, enabling stretchable colour sensors and angle-independent optical effects.
Together, these examples demonstrate how cellulose photonics can bridge precision ordering and scalable processing. From droplet assembly to stretchable sensors and printed microstructures, our work charts a path toward environmentally responsible optical materials capable of responding to
touch, flow, and form.
Bio
Dr. Ahu Dumanli-Parry is an Associate Professor at the University of Manchester, leading research at the intersection of materials science, biology, and design. Her group develops bio-inspired functional and adaptive materials for photonic sensing, smart textiles, and sustainable packaging, drawing inspiration from nature’s ability to build complex architectures with remarkable precision and efficiency. She received her MSc in Polymer Science and Technology from the Middle East Technical University and her Ph.D. from Sabanci University, where she designed metal catalysts for the controlled synthesis of carbon nanotubes with tailored physicochemical properties. Following her doctoral work, she joined the University of Cambridge as a post-doctoral researcher working in the Macromolecular Materials Laboratory with Prof. Alan Windle. She was later awarded with a Schlumberger Faculty for the Future Fellow, working in the Cavendish Laboratory with Prof. Ulli Steiner. In 2019, she established her independent research group at Manchester as a bp-ICAM Kathleen Lonsdale Research Fellow, founding the BioFUM (Bioinspired Functional Materials) laboratory. Her team investigates how molecular and supramolecular self-assembly in natural polymers, such as cellulose, chitin, and collagen can be re-engineered into advanced photonic and responsive systems through scalable, low-energy, bottom-up manufacturing approaches. Ahu is also the founder of Colorolicious, a university spin-out developing the world’s first edible liquid-crystal colourants for food applications. Passionate about science communication, she has delivered over 100 outreach events through the Discover Materials initiative and led interdisciplinary teaching innovations across Cambridge, Imperial College, and Manchester.