Welcome to the De France Lab at Queen’s University!

Our research program explores the design of sustainable bio-based materials and their application in fields spanning the biomedical, coatings & packaging, and environmental sectors. Specifically, we focus on cellulose- and protein-based nanomaterial ‘building blocks’ such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), and protein nanofibers to make structures including hydrogels, aerogels, emulsions, and films. We aim to understand and leverage structure-function relationships to precisely tailor material performance for targeted applications. The work in our lab is interdisciplinary, spanning materials chemistry, engineering, and biotechnology, with the end goal of replacing petroleum-based products with high-performance renewable materials for a greener future.