Conductive cellulose nanocrystals, method of producing same and uses thereof

A process for preparing a composite having a core-shell arrangement, said composite comprising cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) as the core, a first layer comprising at least one surface agent in contact with said CNC and a second layer comprising at least one intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) in contact with said surface agent;

• said process comprising:
• dispersing the cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) in a solution, wherein said CNC has a rod-like shape with a mean diameter of 10-20 nm and length of 200-400 nm;
• mixing the CNC solution and at least one surface agent to cause adsorption of said surface agent on the CNC surface and form said first layer;
• adding at least one monomer of said intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) and polymerizing said monomer at about neutral pH to form said second layer in contact with said first layer comprising the surface agent, wherein said core is individually coated by said ICP;
• and
• isolating said composite.

A composite having a core-shell arrangement, said composite comprising cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) as the core, a first layer comprising at least one surface agent in contact with said CNC and a second layer comprising at least one intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) in contact with said surface agent;

• wherein said CNC has a rod-like shape with a mean diameter of 10-20 nm and length of 200-400 nm;
• wherein said CNC is individually coated by said ICP;
• wherein said first layer is poly(-vinylpyridine) (P4VP), poly(N,N-dimethyl acrylamide) (PDMA), Polyethylenimine (PEI), or poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP);
• and
• wherein said ICP is polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyindole, polythiophene, poly(3-methylthiophene), poly(N-methyl aniline), or poly(o-toluidine).