Effect of metal‐oxide nanoparticle presence and alginate cross‐linking on cellulose nanocrystal‐based aerogels

Abstract

In a context where environmentally friendly materials development is becoming essential, cellulose is achieving a great importance. Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) hierarchical and nanostructured porous network is a versatile nanoparticle support to fabricate nanocomposites for different solutions. In this work, CNC‐based aerogels loaded with copper and palladium‐oxide nanoparticles have been synthesized by nitrate precursor reduction followed by freeze‐drying, after a scalable, surfactantless and room temperature process. The in situ produced nanoparticles are entrapped by CNC due to ionic interactions and aerogels show an uniformly colored macroscopic appearance. Metal oxide nanoparticle (MOx) mediated hybridization promotes remarkable changes in CNC wettability, free surface energy and thermal stability. These modifications are dependent on the type of metal precursor and concentration and have been analyzed by different techniques. Overall, obtained CNC hybrid aerogels are lightweight (12–30 mg.cm−3) and highly porous (98%–99%). Finally, more mechanically resistant hybrid aerogels have been synthesized through the incorporation of sodium alginate and tested by compressive stress measurements.

Fluorescent cellulose nanocrystals/waterborne polyurethane nanocomposites for anti-counterfeiting applications

“…35 For the WPU film, only a broad diffraction peak at 2y = 191 was observed, indicating that the film had amorphous properties. 36 Upon the incorporation of TPE-CNCs into the WPU matrix, the diffraction peak intensity at 22.61 was enhanced as TPE-CNCs content increased. At the same time, no additional diffraction peaks or peak shifts were observed, indicating that the original crystal structure of CNCs was well preserved in the nanocomposites.…”

On the mineralization of nanocellulose to produce functional hybrid materials

“…122 Similarly, copper and palladium-oxide nanoparticle loaded CNC-based aerogels have been in situ synthesized and characterized by a variety of techniques including macroscopic techniques like BET, porosity measurements, etc. 123 QCMD has been used to examine the in situ adsorption of the metal ions on the nanocellulose film in terms of adsorbed mass, which is then correlated with the size of the small nanoclusters (Fig. 4(a)).…”

A novel cellulose‐derived carbon aerogel@Na2Ti3O7 composite for efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

“…Various types of carbon aerogels have been reported in the literature, such as graphene aerogel, 31 biomass carbon aerogel, 32 N‐doped carbon aerogel, 33 and carbon nanotube/graphene hybrid aerogel 34 . Among these carbon aerogels, cellulose‐based porous carbon aerogel with environmentally friendly and low‐cost properties have aroused widespread research interest 35–40 . Cellulose possesses biodegradability, non‐toxicity, renewable and rich in carbon, so it is an ideal raw material for preparing carbon materials 41–44 .…”