Cellulose nanofibers doped with conductive nanomaterials for THz applications

Cellulose-based materials have shown a variety of attractive properties in the past few years. Here, we characterized the THz properties of biomimetic aerogels based on cellulose nanofibers doped with various conductive materials, carbon nanotubes, silver nanowires, and MXene. The differently doped cellulose samples demonstrate a low refractive index as well as high birefringence and absorption, making these materials candidates for future THz optical devices such as THz polarizers and waveplates. In addition, the complex refractive index of MXene is estimated.