Cellulose Nanofiber-Based Ethylene Scavenging Antimicrobial Films Incorporated with Various Types of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles to Extend the Shelf Life of Fruits

TiO 2 nanotubes (TNTs) were synthesized hydrothermally and modified by Cu 2 O using a sol–gel method to provide photocatalytic activity in visible light. Cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-based films were prepared by adding TiO 2, TNTs, and Cu 2 O-modified TNT (TNT-Cu 2 O). The TiO 2 -based nanoparticles (TiO 2, TNTs, and TNT-Cu 2 O) were uniformly distributed in the base polymer to make compatible and flexible films. The incorporation of nanoparticles significantly enhanced the UV-shielding properties of the film while slightly decreasing the transparency. Incorporating nanofillers improved the film’s mechanical and water resistance properties depending on the nanoparticle type. The TNT-Cu 2 O-added CNF film (CNF/TNT-Cu 2 O) showed the strongest antibacterial activity in visible light, followed by CNF/TNT and CNF/TiO 2 films. The CNF-based films were used for tomato packaging to evaluate the ethylene scavenging property of the films. The CNF/TNT-Cu 2 O film scavenged ethylene gas produced in the headspace during storage, delaying the tomatoes’ discoloration, softening, and weight loss. CNF/TNT-Cu 2 O films are expected to be excellent composite films for the active packaging application of fruits and vegetables.