Fabrication and Properties of Tree-Branched Cellulose Nanofibers (CNFs) via Acid Hydrolysis Assisted with Pre-Disintegration Treatment

Abstract

In this paper, the novel morphology of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) with a unique tree-branched structure was discovered by using acid hydrolysis assisted with pre-disintegration treatment from wood pulps. For comparison, the pulps derived from both softwood and hardwood were utilized to extract nanocellulose in order to validate the feasibility of proposed material fabrication technique. The morphology, crystalline structures, chemical structures, and thermal stability of nanocellulose were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Prior to acid hydrolysis, softwood and hardwood pulps underwent the disintegration treatment in the fiber dissociator. It has been found that nanocellulose derived from disintegrated pulps possesses much longer fiber length (approximately 5–6 μm) and more evident tree-branched structures along with lower degree of crystallinity when compared with those untreated counterparts. The maximum mass loss rate of CNFs takes place at the temperature level of approximately 225 °C, and appears to be higher than that of cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs), which might be attributed to an induced impact of amorphous content. On the other hand, disintegration treatment is quite beneficial to the enhancement of tensile strength of nanocellulose films. This study elaborates a new route of material fabrication toward the development of well-tailored tree-branched CNFs in order to broaden the potential widespread applications of nanocellulose with diverse morphological structures.

Innovative ionic liquid pretreatment followed by wet disk milling treatment provides enhanced properties of sugar palm nano-fibrillated cellulose

“…The absorption at 2895 cm −1 is due to the C–H stretching [ 27 ]. The spectral peak at 1646 cm −1 has been attributed to water's bending mode absorbs by cellulose as reported by The absorption observed at 2895 cm −1 corresponds to C–H stretching, while the spectral peak at 1646 cm −1 is attributed to the bending mode of water absorbed by cellulose, a phenomenon previously reported by Li et al [ 71 ].

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Modification of Flexible Electrodes for P-Type (Nickel Oxide) Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance Based on the Cellulose Nanofiber Film

“…The development of new kinds of flexible films, namely, the CNF film made from sustainable wood pulps, has been resisted. 31 , 32 Nevertheless, by incorporating conductive materials, the non-conductive cellulose film can be converted into a conductive substrate and utilized as a flexible electrode. 29 , 33 − 36 CNF films can be used to embed active polymers, metal oxides, and carbon materials.…”

“…In this case, the flexible electrode composed of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) film can be lighter and more comfortable to carry, allowing it to be used in place of commercially available flexible electrodes. The development of new kinds of flexible films, namely, the CNF film made from sustainable wood pulps, has been resisted. , Nevertheless, by incorporating conductive materials, the non-conductive cellulose film can be converted into a conductive substrate and utilized as a flexible electrode. ,− CNF films can be used to embed active polymers, metal oxides, and carbon materials. So that the conductive film has been prepared and used as electrode devices, such as in flexible supercapacitors, fuel cells, solar cells, and so on .…”