Overview
- EPFL researchers formulated thermal paper using wood-derived lignin as the developer and a sugar-based sensitizer, publishing the results in Science Advances.
- A controlled extraction method called sequential aldehyde-assisted fractionation produced light-colored, uniform lignin suitable for high-quality thermal coatings.
- The sensitizer, diformylxylose derived from xylan, enabled printing at commercial temperatures and showed no estrogenic or toxic profile under test conditions.
- Printed images achieved commercial-range color density and remained readable after long-term storage, though contrast still trails top commercial papers.
- Authors note that optimization of image contrast, industrial scale-up, and broader safety and environmental testing are required before market adoption in a multi-billion-dollar sector.