Hierarchical Twist: Chirality Across Scales in Cellulose Cholesterics (Advanced Optical Materials 4/2026)

Hierarchical Twisted Supramolecular Structures Cellulose derivatives reveal their hidden chiral complexity: free-standing cholesteric films exhibit coexisting left- and right-handed twisted structures that respond in opposite ways to mechanical strain. This hierarchical chiral organization not only couples optical and mechanical responses but also enables spontaneous shape recovery and reversible tuning of circular dichroism—unveiling a new level of mechanoresponsive control in solvent-free thermotropic cellulose systems. More details can be found in the Research Article by Maria Helena Godinho and co-workers (DOI: 10.1002/adom.202502728).