标题: Supramolecular Scale Hydrophilicity Regulation Enabling Efficient Dewatering and Assembly of Nanocellulose into Dense and Strong Bulk Materials as Sustainable Plastic Substitutes

作者: Zhou, J (Zhou, Jie); Ma, YF (Ma, Yifan); Chen, JQ (Chen, Junqing); Cai, ZY (Cai, Ziyan); Qi, LH (Qi, Luhe); Cui, JY (Cui, Jinyi); Deng, SL (Deng, Shilin); Ouyang, WE (Ouyang, Wengen); Fang, ZQ (Fang, Zhiqiang); Qiu, XQ (Qiu, Xueqing); Chen, CJ (Chen, Chaoji)

来源出版物: ADVANCED MATERIALS DOI: 10.1002/adma.202415313 Early Access Date: JAN 2025 Published Date: 2025 JAN 19

摘要: Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are ideal building blocks for creating lightweight and strong bulk structural materials due to their unique supramolecular structure and exceptional mechanical properties within the crystalline regions. However, assembling CNFs into dense bulk structural materials with customizable shape and functionalities remains a great challenge, hindering their practical applications. Here, the dewatering issue of aqueous CNF dispersions is addressed by regulating supramolecular scale hydrophilicity using lactic acid, combined with hot-press molding. This approach enables the fabrication of transparent CNF bulk structural materials with a density of up to 1.426 g cm-3. The mechanical properties, including isotropic in-plane tensile strength (75.5 +/- 4.5 MPa), flexural strength (198 +/- 20 MPa), and hardness (approximate to 300 MPa), surpass most engineering plastics. Moreover, unlike conventional CNF based materials, the CNF bulk structural materials exhibit remarkable water stability and flame retardancy. These unique advantages open a new avenue to bottom-up assembly of CNFs into high-performance multifunctional eco-friendly structural materials, dedicating to substitution of plastics and easing the consumption of petrochemical resources.

作者关键词: bulk structural materials; efficient dewatering; mechanical properties; cellulose nanofibers; plastic substitute

KeyWords Plus: CELLULOSE NANOFIBRILS; WATER; STRENGTH; RAMAN

地址: [Zhou, Jie; Ma, Yifan; Chen, Junqing; Cai, Ziyan; Qi, Luhe; Chen, Chaoji] Wuhan Univ, Hubei Biomass Resource Chem & Environm Biotechnol, Hubei Prov Engn Res Ctr Emerging Funct Coating Mat, Sch Resource & Environm Sci, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.

[Cui, Jinyi; Fang, Zhiqiang] South China Univ Technol, Sch Light Ind & Engn, State Key Lab Adv Papermaking & Paperbased Mat, Guangzhou 510641, Peoples R China.

[Deng, Shilin; Ouyang, Wengen] Wuhan Univ, Sch Civil Engn, Dept Engn Mech, Wuhan 430072, Peoples R China.

[Ouyang, Wengen] Wuhan Univ, State Key Lab Water Resources Engn & Management, Wuhan 430072, Peoples R China.

[Qiu, Xueqing] Guangdong Univ Technol, Sch Chem Engn & Light Ind, Guangzhou 510006, Peoples R China.

通讯作者地址: Chen, CJ (通讯作者)，Wuhan Univ, Hubei Biomass Resource Chem & Environm Biotechnol, Hubei Prov Engn Res Ctr Emerging Funct Coating Mat, Sch Resource & Environm Sci, Wuhan 430079, Peoples R China.

Fang, ZQ (通讯作者)，South China Univ Technol, Sch Light Ind & Engn, State Key Lab Adv Papermaking & Paperbased Mat, Guangzhou 510641, Peoples R China.

电子邮件地址: mszhqfang@scut.edu.cn; chenchaojili@whu.edu.cn