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The development of sustainable and renewable materials is paramount in today’s society. As the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, cellulose from cellulose-rich fibres is an excellent alternative for advanced and innovative material solutions. Nonetheless, competing with the impressive material properties and the low manufacturing costs of fossil-based plastics imposes great challenges. To increase the potential of cellulose fibres in a broader set of applications, the material properties of cellulose need to be tuned depending on the application. An in-depth study of the fibre structure and the application of different tailoring techniques is required to induce tailoring of the physical and chemical properties of the cellulose fibre materials. This thesis focuses on the structure-property relationship of fibrillar hydrogel networks as model structures for the delignified wet-fibre wall. First, a mathematical framework was developed to describe the characteristics of the swelling and mechanical behaviour of anisotropic fibrillar structures, considering the fibril aspect ratio, surface chemistry of the fibrils, and electrolyte concentration in the system. A chemical functionalisation was then introduced to the fibrillar structure, which provided the CNFs with colloidal stability and the ability to participate in free radical polymerisation with monomers and telechelic oligomers. As a result, fibrillar networks were crosslinked with flexible polymer links that provided the network with different mechanical and chemical properties. Additionally, by tailoring the molecular weight of the crosslinks, the ionic strength of the solution, and even the aspect ratio of the fibrils, the mechanical properties of the network were tuned to be either stiffer or more ductile. Finally, an innovative and more sustainable approach was developed to introduce charge and alkene functionality to the fibres. Following the lessons learned from the CNF model investigations, a polymerisation, Utvecklingen av hållbara och förnyelsebara material är avgörande i dagens samhälle. Eftersom cellulosa ifrån växtfibrer är den mest förekommande biopolymeren på jorden är den ett utmärkt alternativ för användning i avancerade och innovativa materiallösningar. Det innebär dock en enorm utmaning att konkurrera med de imponerande materialegenskaperna och låga tillverkningskostnaderna hos fossilbaserade plaster. För att utnyttja den inneboende potentialen hos cellulosafibrerna och utveckla deras egenskapsrymd för användning i vidare tillämpningar är det helt nödvändigt att modifiera cellulosans materialegenskaper för att passa till specifika slutanvändningar. Det är därför nödvändigt att ingående studera hur olika modifieringstekniker kan användas för att skräddarsy fysikaliska och kemiska egenskaper hos cellulosan på olika strukturella nivåer i de delignifierade fibrerna. Arbetet i denna avhandling har fokuserats på att klarlägga struktur-egenskapsförhållandena för cellulosa-rika fibrilstrukturer. Initialt användes fibrillära hydrogelnätverk som modell för den delignifierade våtfibreväggen. Till att börja med utvecklades ett matematiskt ramverk för att beskriva det typiska svällningsbeteendet och de mekaniska egenskaperna hos de anisotropa fibrillstrukturerna med avseende på fibrillernas längs/tvärs förhållande, ytkemi och elektrolytkoncentration i systemet. Efter detta modifierades fibrillerna på ett sådant sätt att de erhöll en god kolloidal stabilitet samtidigt som de försågs med en vinyl-funktionalitet som innebar att de kunde användas i friradikalpolymerisation med olika typer av monomerer och telecheliska oligomerer. Via denna typ av radikalpolymerisation var det möjligt att skapa fibrillnätverk med flexibla polymerkopplingar som resulterade i skräddarsydda mekaniska och kemiska egenskaper. Genom att kontrollera tvärbindningarnas molekylvikt, lösningens jonstyrka och fibrillernas längs/tvärs förhållande kunde nätverkets mekaniska egenskaper kontrolleras så att, QC 20240118Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-01-16

Expanding our understanding of how cellulose fibers and fibrils interact with water and its effect on their inherent properties is needed to optimize their utilization in the making of novel bio-based materials, but also useful in more traditional products (pulp, paper, and packaging). The overall objective of the work in this thesis was to deepen the understanding of drying-induced structural changes and cellulose-water interactions using cellulosic model materials. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were employed as they present a distinct advantage with their defined geometry and controlled surface chemistry compared to macroscopic cellulose fibers. The first part considers the fundamental interactions of CNFs in contact with water and by water removal, and is devoted to identifying the molecular mechanisms behind the process known as hornification. This was done by studying the exposure of CNF sheets to different heat treatments to establish a connection between their reswelling properties, chemical and structural characteristics, and mechanical behavior. The findings indicate that hornification is governed by non-covalent interactions and that the diffusion of water back into a hornified CNF network is kinetically limited. Furthermore, the influence of fibril aspect ratio and chemical functionality on the mechanical properties of wet fibrillar networks was studied. Fibrils were prepared from fibers with different hemicellulose content. It was found that longer fibrils formed stiffer and more ductile materials, owing to a longer-range and more uniform distribution of stress transfer. Additionally, high aspect ratio fibrils form networks capable of holding larger amounts of water. It was also possible to elucidate the influence of aspect ratio on the network formation, where long and short fibrils form networks with different topologies. These results were integrated into a mechanical network model to present an improved elastoplastic description of the network propert, Att utvidga vår förståelse för hur cellulosafibrer och fibriller interagerar med vatten och dess effekt på deras inneboende egenskaper är nödvändigt för att optimera deras användning vid tillverkning av nya biobaserade material, men även i traditionella produkter (massa, papper och förpackningar). Det övergripande målet med arbetet i denna avhandling var att fördjupa förståelsen för strukturella förändringar orsakade av torkning och cellulosa-vatten interaktioner med hjälp av cellulosabaserade modellmaterial. Cellulosa nanofibriller (CNFs) användes då de har en fördel med sin definierade geometri och kontrollerade ytkemi i jämförelse med makroskopiska cellulosafibrer. Den första delen avhandlar de grundläggande interaktionerna mellan CNFs i kontakt med vatten och efter vattenborttagning, och ägnas åt att identifiera de molekylära mekanismerna bakom processen som kallas hornifiering. Detta gjordes genom att studera CNF-ark som utsatts för olika värmebehandlingar för att fastställa en koppling mellan deras svällningsegenskaper, kemiska och strukturella egenskaper samt mekaniska beteende. Resultaten indikerar att förhorning styrs av icke-kovalenta interaktioner och att diffusionen av vatten tillbaka in i ett förhornat CNF-nätverk är kinetiskt begränsad. Sedan studerades inflytandet av fibrillernas längd-bredd förhållande och kemisk funktionalitet på de mekaniska egenskaperna hos våta fibrillnätverk. Fibriller framställdes från fibrer med olika hemicellulosahalt. Resultaten visade att längre fibriller bildade styvare och mer töjbara material, tack vare en längre och mer jämn fördelning av belastningsöverföring. Dessutom bildar fibriller med högt längd-bredd förhållande nätverk som kan hålla större mängder vatten. Det var också möjligt att förklara inflytandet av längd-bredd förhållande på nätverksbildningen, där långa och korta fibriller bildar nätverk med olika topologier. Dessa resultat integrerades i en mekanisk nätverksmodell för att presentera en förbättrad elasto, QC 20240508Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-05-08

Long, slender cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are unique with their high axial modulus, small diameter, high flexibility, and the possibility of chemical tailoring of, among other things, their surface charge density. The objective of this work has been to elucidate how the hydrogel network properties and how their related deformation mechanisms depend on CNF properties, concentration, and chemical environment. In addition, the influence of CNF characteristics on the formation of the structure and properties of isotropic hydrogels, anisotropic hydrogels, and aerogels has been studied. This was done by combining theoretical models describing the CNF network's topology and mechanics with high-resolution experiments to validate the theoretical models. Furthermore, the properties of the fibrils have been characterized in detail and linked to the material properties of materials formed from the fibrils. Finally, the CNF networks in this work have been functionalized in two different ways. In the first case, a flow channel was created within the hydrogel network at extremely low CNF concentrations, that could be surface treated with a Layer-by-layer (LbL) methodology with a consecutive addition of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes/nanoparticles to add new functionalities to the channels. Secondly, wet stable aerogels, prepared at higher concentrations of CNFs, were treated using the LbL methodology to adjust the aerogels' surface structure and surface energy, thereby controlling the liquid spreading rate properties of the formed networks. The most important findings in this work are that CNF network topology and network mechanics can be described using theoretical, rather non-complicated, elastoplastic models. Furthermore, at lower concentrations of CNFs, the network structure is formed in a more organized way, meaning that the fibrils have the time and freedom to seek their optimal contact points during the network formation from a thermodynamic free energy point of view., Långa, smala cellulosananofibriller (CNF) är unika med sin höga axiella E-modul, låga diameter, höga flexibilitet och stora möjlighet till kemisk modifiering som bland annat använts för att styra fibrillernas ytladdningstäthet. Syftet med detta arbete har varit att klarlägga hur egenskaperna hos hydrogeler, framställda av nanofibriller, och dess deformationsmekanismer, kan kopplas till olika grundläggande CNF-egenskaper, koncentration och kemisk miljö. Dessutom har vi studerat inverkan av hur CNF-egenskaperna påverkar den bildade nätverksstrukturen och hur de påverkar de slutliga egenskaperna hos isotropa- och anisotropa hydrogeler och aerogeler som formats ifrån de olika fibrillslagen. Den strategi som användes, och visade sig mycket framgångsrik, för att nå dessa mål, var att kombinera teoretiska modeller som beskriver CNF-nätverkets topologi och mekanik med specialdesignade experiment för att validera de teoretiska modellerna. Vidare har ett omfattande arbete lagts ned på att karakterisera fibrillernas kemiska, strukturella och morfologiska egenskaper och att koppla dessa till de funktionella materialegenskaperna hos de material som har tillverkats ifrån dessa fibriller. Slutligen har de färdiga CNF-nätverken funktionaliserats på två olika sätt. I det första fallet skapades en stabil flödeskanal i ett hydrogelnätverk, som preparerats vid extremt låg CNF-koncentration, och det visade sig vara möjligt att ytbehandla denna kanal med en lager för lager (LbL) metod där motladdade polyelektrolyter och/eller nanopartiklar användes för att tillföra nya egenskaper till kanalen. I det andra fallet behandlades förtillverkade, våtstabila aerogeler, som preparerats vid högre koncentration av CNF, med en LbL-behandling för att kontrollera ytstruktur och ytkemi hos aerogelerna, och att därigenom kontrollera vätskespridningshastigheten hos nätverken. De viktigaste resultaten i detta arbete är att CNF-nätverkets topologi och nätverksmekanik kan beskrivas med hjälp av relativt ok, QC 2024-04-30Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-04-18.

Cellulose-based aerogels are emerging bio-based materials for a range of applications in the quest toward a circular and carbon-neutral society. Owing to their lightweight nature, high porosity, high specific surface area, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, cellulose aerogels are suitable for packaging, insulation, wound care products, hygiene products, and water purification. However, their commercial use is hampered by complicated time- and energy-consuming fabrication processes. Hence, industrially relevant processes with upscaling opportunities need to be developed for cellulose-based aerogels to reach their full potential. This thesis explores different scalable and simple methods for preparing and designing highly porous aerogels with high wet integrity using cellulose-rich fibers and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). As wet integrity is crucial for specific applications and enables further functionalization of the aerogels using water-based chemistry, different methods were developed to achieve wet integrity without complicated crosslinking procedures. The effects of the raw materials and processing methods on the final material properties were also carefully studied to optimize the performance for the targeted applications. Moreover, the role of the network-forming ability of CNFs in the development of functional materials with structural integrity was explored by incorporating small amounts of CNFs in aerogel systems based on macroscopic cellulose-rich fibers and nanosized metal-organic frameworks. Finally, the potential of the different developed cellulose-based or cellulose-reinforced aerogels with high wet integrity was demonstrated in applications for which the aerogels’ structural integrity and physical and mechanical properties are highly advantageous, such as biomedical applications, gas storage and separation, flame retardancy, and hygiene products. As demonstrated in this thesis, these functional aerogel materials could be a bio-based alternativ, Cellulosabaserade aerogeler har på senare tid visat sig vara användbara biobaserade material för olika tillämpningar i strävan mot ett cirkulärt och kolneutralt samhälle. Materialens mycket låga densitet, höga porositet, höga specifika yta, biokompatibilitet och biologiska nedbrytbarhet innebär att cellulosaaerogeler är lämpliga för förpackningar, isolering, sårvårdsprodukter, hygienprodukter och vattenrening. Den kommersiella användningen har dock bromsats av komplicerade, tid- och energikrävande tillverkningsmetoder. Därmed måste industriellt relevanta processer med uppskalningsmöjligheter utvecklas för att cellulosabaserade aerogeler ska nå sin fulla potential. Denna avhandling utforskar olika skalbara och enkla metoder för att bereda och skräddarsy högporösa och våtstabila aerogeler från cellulosafibrer och cellulosananofibriller (CNFer). Eftersom våtstabilitet är avgörande för vissa tillämpningar och möjliggör ytterligare funktionalisering med vattenbaserad kemi, har ett omfattande arbete genomförts för att identifiera nya metoder för att skapa en god våtstabilitet utan att använda komplicerade tvärbindningsprocedurer. Ett stort fokus har även lagts på att klarlägga råvarans och bearbetningsmetodernas inverkan på de slutliga materialegenskaperna för att optimera prestandan för riktade tillämpningar. Dessutom har CNFers unika nätverksbildande egenskaper också utforskats i att skapa funktionella material med strukturell integritet från mycket små mängder CNFer i aerogelsystem baserade på makroskopiska cellulosarika fibrer och nanopartiklar av metallorganiska nätverk. Slutligen demonstrerades potentialen av de framställda cellulosabaserade och cellulosaförstärkta aerogelerna med utmärkt våtstyrka i tillämpningar där deras strukturella integritet, fysikaliska och mekaniska egenskaper kan användas på ett mycket fördelaktigt sätt, till exempel biomedicinska applikationer, gaslagring och -separering, flamskydd, och hygienprodukter. Mot bakgrund av dessa resultat är d, QC 20240522Embargo godkänt av skolchef Amelie Eriksson Karlström via e-post 2024-05-14

Fundamental research plays a pivotal role in the development of sustainable solutions that benefit both our environment and everyday lives. Cellulose, as an abundant and renewable resource, holds immense potential for sustainable applications. However, navigating the complexities of molecular and supramolecular structure of cellulose poses significant challenges in harnessing its full potential. By delving into fundamental research, we aim to uncover the underlying mechanisms governing cellulose interactions, paving the way for innovative advancements in sustainable material development.This thesis uncovers the intricate relationship between fundamental research and applied methodologies by showing how molecular contact and structure at the interface of cellulose-rich materials will control the development of the macroscopic mechanical properties of networks from cellulose-rich fibres. The study encompasses various facets, ranging from the development of model materials for studying interfacial interactions to the preparation of fibrous networks with tailored properties.In the initial part of the work the research delves into the development of model materials to investigate interactions at smooth interfaces of regenerated cellulose. The study reveals the crucial role of the making and breaking of cellulose interface, or sometimes interphase, in the development of adhesive joints. Experimental findings demonstrate how chemical additives influence the interactions between cellulose surfaces, thereby modulating the structural and adhesive properties at the interface. Furthermore, by utilizing model materials, insights are gained into fibre-fibre interactions and the influence of surface treatments on network formation and mechanical performance. Lastly, the research focused on investigating the preparation of fibrous networks at different densities and amount of adsorbed additives, providing a comprehensive understanding of how network density and composition affect m, Grundläggande forskning spelar naturligtvis en avgörande roll i utvecklingen av hållbara materiallösningar och processer som gynnar både vår miljö och vårt vardagsliv. Cellulosa, som är en förnyelsebar och rikligt tillgänglig råvara, har också en enorm användnings potential i olika typer av hållbara material. Cellulosan har dock en avancerad och komplicerad molekylär och över molekylärstruktur och det är därför svårt att till fullo utnyttja den inneboende potentialen hos denna fascinerande råvara. Genom att fördjupa oss i och klarlägga de molekylära mekanismer som ligger till grund för växelverkan mellan cellulosarika ytor har vi skapat en grundförutsättning för att kunna utnyttja cellulosans inneboende egenskaper i olika typer av fiberbaserade nätverk . Resultaten i avhandlingen understryker den komplicerade och användbara kopplingen som finns mellan grundläggande förståelse och praktiska tillämpningar genom att visa hur den molekylära kontakten och strukturen i gränsytan mellan två cellulosa-rika ytor kommer att kontrollera de makroskopiska egenskaperna hos nätverk ifrån cellulosa rika fibrer. Studierna i avhandlingen omfattar olika aspekter, allt ifrån utvecklingen av väldefinierade och nm-jämna modellmaterial, för att studera molekylära växelverkai gränsytan mellan två cellulosa ytor, till framställningen av fibrösa nätverk med skräddarsydda egenskaper.I den första delen av arbetet har fokus legat på att utveckla väl karakteriserade modellmaterial och väldefinierade metoder för att klarlägga växelverkan i gränsytan eller gränsfasen mellan två cellulosa ytor. Resultaten visar också hur tillsats kemikalier påverkar växelverkan mellan cellulosa ytor och hur valet av kemikalier kan användas för att styra de strukturella och adhesiva egenskaperna hos gränsytan. Genom att använda våra modellmaterial har det också varit möjligt att bättre förstå de grundläggande mekanismerna som kontrollerar fiber-fiberväxelverkningar och därigenom hur tillsatskemikalier eller fibermod, QC 2024-04-08

QC 20240514

Despite extensive research on biobased and fiber-basedmaterials, fundamental questions regarding the molecular processesgoverning fiber−fiber interactions remain unanswered. In this study, weintroduce a method to examine and clarify molecular interactions withinfiber−fiber joints using precisely characterized model materials, i.e.,regenerated cellulose gel beads with nanometer-smooth surfaces. Byphysically modifying these materials and drying them together to createmodel joints, we can investigate the mechanisms responsible for joiningcellulose surfaces and how this affects adhesion in both dry and wet statesthrough precise separation measurements. The findings reveal a subtlebalance in the joint formation, influencing the development ofnanometer-sized structures at the contact zone and likely inducingbuilt-in stresses in the interphase. This research illustrates how model materials can be tailored to control interactions betweencellulose-rich surfaces, laying the groundwork for future high-resolution studies aimed at creating stiff, ductile, and/or tough jointsbetween cellulose surfaces and to allow for the design of high-performance biobased materials., QC 20240404

If cellulosic materials are to replace materials derived from non-renewable resources, it is necessary to overcome intrinsic limitations such as fragility, permeability to gases, susceptibility to water vapour and poor three-dimensional shaping. Novel properties or the enhancement of existing properties are required to expand the applications of cellulosic materials and will create new market opportunities. Here we have overcome the well-known restrictions that impede melt-processing of high cellulose content composites. Cellulose fibres, partially derivatised to dialcohol cellulose, have been used to manufacture three-dimensional high-density materials by conventional melt processing techniques, with or without the addition of a thermoplastic polymer. This work demonstrates the use of melt processable chemically modified cellulose fibres in the preparation of a new generation of highly sustainable materials with tuneable properties that can be tailored for specific applications requiring complex three-dimensional parts., QC 20230227

Nanoscale infrared (IR) spectroscopy and microscopy, enabling the acquisition of IR spectra and images with a lateral resolution of 20 nm, is employed to chemically characterize individual cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) to elucidate if the CNCs and CNFs consist of alternating crystalline and amorphous domains along the CNF/CNC. The high lateral resolution enables studies of the nanoscale morphology at different domains of the CNFs/CNCs: flat segments, kinks, twisted areas, and end points. The types of nano-cellulose investigated are CNFs from tunicate, CNCs from cotton, and anionic and cationic wood-derived CNFs. All nano-FTIR spectra acquired from the different samples and different domains of the individual nanocellulose particles resemble a spectrum of crystalline cellulose, suggesting that the non-crystalline cellulose signal observed in macroscopic measurements of nanocellulose most likely originate from cellulose chains present at the surface of the nanocellulose particles., QC 20230109

The fundamental understanding concerning cellulose-cellulose interactions under wet and dry conditions remains unclear. This is especially true regarding the drying-induced association of cellulose, commonly described as an irreversible phenomenon called hornification. A fundamental understanding of the mechanisms behind hornification would contribute to new drying techniques for cellulose-based materials in the pulp and paper industry while at the same time enhancing material properties and facilitating the recyclability of cellulose-rich materials. In the present work, the irreversible joining of cellulose-rich surfaces has been studied by subjecting cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films to different heat treatments to establish a link between reswelling properties, structural characteristics as well as chemical and mechanical analyses. A heating time/temperature dependence was observed for the reswelling of the CNF films, which is related to the extent of hornification and is different for different chemical compositions of the fibrils. Further, the results indicate that hornification is related to a diffusion process and that the reswellability increases very slowly over long time, indicating that equilibrium is not reached. Hence, hornification is suggested to be a kinetically limited phenomenon governed by non-covalent reversible interactions and a time/temperature dependence on their forming and breaking., QC 20230829

The development of wood-based thermoplastic polymersthat can replacesynthetic plastics is of high environmental importance, and previousstudies have indicated that cellulose-rich fiber containing dialcoholcellulose (ring-opened cellulose) is a very promising candidate material.In this study, molecular dynamics simulations, complemented with experiments,were used to investigate how and why the degree of ring opening influencesthe properties of dialcohol cellulose, and how temperature and presenceof water affect the material properties. Mechanical tensile properties,diffusion/mobility-related properties, densities, glass-transitiontemperatures, potential energies, hydrogen bonds, and free volumeswere simulated for amorphous cellulosic materials with 0-100%ring opening, at ambient and high (150 degrees C) temperatures, withand without water. The simulations showed that the impact of ringopenings, with respect to providing molecular mobility, was higherat high temperatures. This was also observed experimentally. Hence,the ring opening had the strongest beneficial effect on "processability"(reduced stiffness and strength) above the glass-transition temperatureand in wet conditions. It also had the effect of lowering the glass-transitiontemperature. The results here showed that molecular dynamics is avaluable tool in the development of wood-based materials with optimalthermoplastic properties., QC 20231122

Packaging plays a critical role in ensuring food safety and shelf life by protecting against e.g., moisture, gases, and light. Polyethylene (PE) is widely used in food packaging, but it is mainly produced from non-renewable resources and it is an inefficient oxygen and light barrier. In this study, the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of a sustainably produced lignin-based polymer (EH) with polyethylenimine (PEI) or chitosan (CH) was used to fabricate (partially or fully) bio-based coatings with the aim of improving barrier properties of PE films. The charge density of EH was calculated using a polyelectrolyte titration method and the hydrodynamic diameters of EH, PEI and CH were determined by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). LbL assembly was monitored in situ via Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) and Stagnation Point Adsorption Reflectometry (SPAR). PE films were coated with a variable number of PEI/EH or CH/EH bilayers (BL) using an immersive LbL assembly method. Coated films were studied in terms of light-blocking ability, wettability, thermal behaviour, surface structure, as well as oxygen and water vapor barrier properties. QCM-D and SPAR data showed a stepwise multilayer formation and strong interactions between the oppositely charged polymers, with PEI/EH coating having a greater amount of deposited polymer compared to CH/EH coating at the same number of BL. Overall, light barrier properties and wettability of the coated films increased with the number of deposited bilayers. Coated PE films maintained the overall thermal behaviour of PE. A number of BL of 20 was found to be the most promising based on the studied properties. Selected samples showed improved oxygen and water vapor barrier properties, with PEI/EH coating performing better than CH/EH coating. Taken altogether, we demonstrated that a novel and sustainable lignin-based polymer can be combined with PEI or CH to fabricate (partially or fully) bio-based coatings for food packaging., QC 20230706

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues in today’s world. Addressing this problem calls for the development of environmentally friendly alternatives that would reduce the amount of persistent plastic waste. Wood-based cellulose is an excellent candidate as a renewable and biodegradable alternative to oil-based plastics in a variety of applications. However, for their widespread adoption, cellulosic materials need to perform comparably to their oil-based counterparts, while simultaneously attaining similarly high processing efficiencies. A major challenge today is to produce high-performance cellulosic materials at industrially feasible rates using scalable methods. This thesis demonstrates that with a fundamental understanding of fiber chemistry and behavior, cellulose fibers can be tuned to develop sustainable material streams and advanced functional materials at high process rates. First, a new stimuli-responsive cellulosic fiber material called self-fibrillating fibers (SFFs) was developed, where the mechanisms governing the swelling of the fiber wall were thoroughly investigated. The knowledge and understanding obtained from these fundamental studies were utilized to prepare pH-responsive filters. Secondly, the preparation of SFF papers and nanopapers using conventional papermaking methods and equipment was demonstrated within the context of rapid transparent paper preparation. It was shown that SFFs can be rapidly dewatered to obtain papers, where the constituting fibers can be nanofibrillated in situ, resulting in strong, transparent and gas barrier nanopapers without sacrificing processing speed. Thirdly, the use of SFFs was extended to functional nanocomposites. A new and scalable materials processing platform for the rapid preparation of functional cellulose hybrids was developed. The stimuli-responsive self-assembly of chemically nanofibrillated SFFs was studied and utilized to prepare nanopapers and hybrid materials. Finally, S, Plastföroreningar är en av de mest akuta miljöfrågorna i dagens värld. För att ta itu med problemet krävs en utveckling av miljövänliga alternativ som skulle kunna begränsa mängden icke nedbrytbart plastavfall. I träbaserade, cellulosarika fibrer utgör i detta avseende en utmärkt råvara som kan användas som ett förnyelsebart och biologiskt nedbrytbart alternativ till oljebaserade plaster i en rad olika tillämpningar. Cellulosamaterialen måste naturligtvis ha egenskaper som är i paritet med, eller bättre än, de oljebaserade materialen för att klara konkurrensen och samtidigt ha en konkurrenskraftig tillverkningsekonomi. En stor utmaning idag är därför att producera högpresterande cellulosamaterial med effektiva och skalbara processer. Föreliggande avhandling visar att det mha grundläggande förståelse för fiberkemi och fibrernas fysikaliska beteende under olika kemiska betingelser att det är möjligt att skräddarsy vedbaserade fibrer så att det är möjligt att utveckla hållbara, avancerade funktionella material tom vid höga tillverkningshastigheter. Initialt utvecklades ett stimuli-känsligt cellulosafibermaterial, sk självfibrillerande fibrer (SFFs), som tillåter att fibrerna kan användas i konventionella arkformningsmetoder för att sedan sönderdelas till fibriller i det tillverkade arket som förvandlar det tillverkade arket till en genomskinlig film. Det visade sig att det var möjligt att snabbt avvattna de självfibrillerande fibrerna och mha en pH-höjning var det sedan möjligt attfibrillera de modifierade fibrerna in-situ vilket resulterade i starka, transparenta nanopapper med goda barriäregenskaper. Med hjälp av avancerade karakteriseringsmetoder var det också möjligt att klarlägga de mekanismer som styr fibrillfriläggningen och svällningen hos fiberväggen i de modifierade fibrerna. Denna insikt, om hur de modifierade fibrerna sväller under olika betingelser, användes vidare för att tillverka pH-känsliga filter där avskiljningsförmåga och filtreringshastighet enkel, QC 2022-04-06

Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) with PCR technology to amplify DNA, are the golden standard for infectious disease diagnostics, but they require benchtop instruments and trained users to be performed. For this reason, we all had to send PCR test to centralized laboratories during the Covid-19 pandemic. A year into the pandemic, home-based antigen paper-based tests became available for Covid, but these were not as sensitive, so PCR tests had to be used still. This development emphasized the need for technologies that enable NAATs with superior sensitivity to be performed at home. There are three technological advanced that could make such tests possible: 1) Paper based devices, called paper microfluidics, have been developed to enable more advanced steps of testing without laboratory equipment. These paper-based system incorporate advanced functionality and multiple reaction steps. 2) New DNA amplification techniques, called isothermal amplification, have been developed which, contrary to PCR, can be run without a thermocycler, enabling DNA amplification to be carried out even inside a paper. 3) Several methods to detect DNA have been shown using paper. One step that is still largely unsolved in NAATs is the sample preparation step, hindering the development of fully paper-based NAATs. In sample preparation, nucleic acids are extracted from bacteria or virus, usually using reagents harmful to DNA amplification. These steps are thereofore complicated and require several washing steps and heating, and are therefore difficult to integrate into paper. In this thesis, we used a simple, cost-effective, and scalable method to incorporate sample preparation in paper, thus taking NAATs towards point of care. We solve this problem by immobilizing enzymes that are used for sample preparation on nitrocellulose paper. The immobilized enzymes remain functional and can be used for biochemical reactions, while they are strongly bound to the paper. This method enables the, DNA tester också kallade NAAT tester, utförs idag med PCR-teknik, som först detekterar en specifik DNA och sedan replikerar den för detektion av infektionssjukdomar. PCR tester kräver dock instrument och utbildade personal. Av denna anledning var vi alla tvungna att skicka PCR-test till centraliserade laboratorier under COVID-19-pandemin. Ett år in i pandemin blev antigen pappersbaserade tester tillgängliga för hemtestning, men dessa var fortfarande inte tillräckligt känsliga och PCR-testerna behövde fortfarande användas. Denna utveckling visade behovet av att tillgängliggöra NAAT för hemmabruk. Det har på senare tid gjorts tre tekniska framsteg som för oss närmare sådana tester:_1) Pappersbaserade tester, så kallade pappers mikrofluidik, har utvecklats, för att möjliggöra mer avancerade tester. Dessa pappersbaserade system innehåller avancerad funktionalitet och flera reaktionssteg. 2) Nya DNA-amplifieringstekniker som kallas isotermisk amplifiering har utvecklats. Dessa kan i motsats till PCR köras utan maskiner, under konstant temperatur, och därmed blir DNA-amplifiering möjlig att utföra även inuti ett papper. 3) Flera metoder för att detektera DNA-metoder har visats med papper. Ett steg som fortfarande inte är helt löst är provberedningssteget för NAAT. I provberedningen extraheras nukleinsyror från bakterier eller virus, vanligtvis genom användning av reagenser som är förstörr DNA-amplifiering. Provbredning är därför komplicerade. Dom kräver flera tvättsteg och uppvärmning och är därför svåra att integrera i papper. I det här arbetet använde vi en enkel, kostnadseffektiv och skalbar metod för att integrera provberedning i papper. Våra resultat tar oss ett steg närmare DNA självtestning. Vi löser problemet med provbredning genom att immobilisera relevanta enzymer på nitrocellulosapapper. Dessa immobiliserade enzymer förblir funktionella och kan sedan utföra biokemiska reaktioner, samtidigt som de är starkt bundna till papperet. Denna metod möjliggör separation, QC 2022-11-03

Modern demand for consumer electronics is fueling the generation of 'E-waste.' Furthermore, theraw materials and manufacturing methods used in the fabrication of electronics are not sustainable.There is therefore the need to develop renewable and sustainable raw materials for electronicdevices that do not sacrifice performance; as well as a requirement to develop novel, scalable,sustainable electronic device fabrication methods that use these green electronic materials. To thisend, bio-based materials are an environment-friendly alternative to non-renewable materials; andprinted electronics could replace traditional manufacturing methods. Cellulose, one of the mostabundant biopolymers on Earth, exhibits an interesting hierarchical structure. Due to extensiveresearch over the years, there are a wide variety of established chemical modifications for cellulose,which can be harnessed to prepare high-performance electronic components. The hierarchicalstructure of cellulose is crucial in defining its material properties. In cellulose rich fibers, highmolecular mass glucan polymers are commonly found in the form of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs);these can be liberated and, once so, are capable of self-assembling into a wide variety of structures.Since cellulose is electrically insulating, it needs to be made into composites with conductivematerials to form electrically conductive materials.This thesis investigates the interaction between cellulose and the conductive polymer PEDOT:PSS(poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) : polystyrene sulfonate), and demonstrates how a fundamentalunderstanding of the interactions between the two can be used to guide the chemical modificationof cellulose for the large scale production of sustainable electronics. First, the PEDOT:PSS structurewas studied using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and experimental methods. Secondly, theinteraction between cellulose and PEDOT:PSS was studied, and factors affecting this interactionwere identified. This, En enorm efterfrågan på hemelektronik skapar ett stort "e-avfalls” problem i dagenssamhälle. De råvaror som idag används för att tillverka elektronik har ett högtkoldioxidavtryck, och traditionella tillverkningsmetoder för elektronik är dessutomenergikrävande. Därför finns det en stort behov av högpresterande, hållbara, billiga,förnyelsebara råvaror för elektroniska komponenter. Dessutom behövs nya, hållbarabearbetningsmetoder för att producera elektroniska komponenter med lägre mängderinbyggd energi. I detta avseende är biobaserade material ett miljövänligt alternativ till ickeförnybaramaterial och tryckt elektronik skulle kunna användas för att ersätta traditionellatillverkningsmetoder. Cellulosa är en mycket vanligt förekommande biopolymer i mångaväxter och i vissa djur och det finns många rationella metoder för att utvinna denna polymeroch polymeren är därför en mycket intressant råvara för framtida produkter. Denhögmolekylära glukanmolekylen organiseras i i de flesta fallen i cellulosa nanofibriller (CNF)som sedan anordnas i en hierarkisk struktur i makroskopiska fibrer. Modern forskning harockså visat att de frilagda fibrillerna kan självorganiseras i skräddarsydda nano-strukturersom kan vara mycket intressanta för att tillverka högpresterande elektroniska komponenter.Med hjälp av all den forskning som genomförts för cellulosamaterial genom åren finns detockså tillgång till en fantastisk verktygslåda för att kemiskt modifiera cellulosa för att passa iolika tillämpningar. Eftersom cellulosa är elektriskt isolerande är det nödvändigt attkombinera cellulosa med ett ledande material för att skapa skräddarsydda komponenter medgod elektrisk ledningsförmåga.Arbetet i denna avhandling har fokuserats på studera växelverkan mellan cellulosa och denledande polymer PEDOT:PSS, och för att klarlägga hur denna grundläggande förståelse kanutnyttjas för att identifiera nödvändiga kemiska modifieringar på cellulosan för att överföraresultaten till storskalig produktion av hållb, QC 2022-11-21. Embargo godkänt av Mikael Lindström, skolchef CBH.

Paper packaging is commonly found in the form of paper and cardboard boxes, but recently paper packing is being used in food packaging, trays, beverage packaging and even paper straws, among others. Paper strength additives have been developed to increase the efficiency of the joint strength and the joint areas and potentially maintain bulk in paper products. In this thesis, a fundamental study of paper dry strength additives was performed involving kraft birch fibres and model cellulose materials to explore the interaction between strength additives and cellulose fibres. The same techniques used in paper strength additives were extended to the adsorption of fire-retardant polymers on fibres. Adsorption behaviours of cationic starch (CS) and anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) or anionic polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) were studied on kraft birch fibres with different surface charges. It was found that the saturation adsorption of CS on birch fibres in 0.01 M NaCl showed a linear relationship with the surface charge of fibre, while the adsorption of APAM and PECs was independent of the surface charge of fibres. Higher surface charge of fibres expands the saturation adsorption capacity of strength additives, consequently, improves the tensile strength properties of handsheets made of kraft birch fibres with CS/APAM or CS/PECs. Bending stiffness of handsheets was improved by CS and boosted by PECs or APAM. In addition, sheet density was not significantly compromised by adding strength additives. Cationic strength additives were investigated on model cellulose surfaces, model cellulose nanofibrils filaments, and model cellulose beads. CSs produced an increase in the mass of the cellulose surface, while cationic PAMs led to a decrease in the total mass of cellulose surface determined by Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation monitoring. All types of strength additives affected the filament joints but in different ways, while most of them made filaments form intermixed, Cellulosafiberbaserade förpackningar, så som förpackningar av kartong, används flitigt för till exempel livsmedels- och dryckesförpackningar och snabbmatsförpackningar. På senare tid har även fiberbaserade material börjat an vändas för att göra sugrör. Tillsatsämnen, så som styrkeökande kemikalier, används vid tillverkning av papper och kartong för att förbättra produktens egenskaper. De styrkeökande kemikalierna är ofta utvecklade för att öka fogstyrkan och den totala fogarean, det vill säga den totala kontaktytan mellan överlappande fibrer. Detta bör helst uppnås i kombination med en hög bulk (låg densitet). Denna avhandling studerar på grundläggande nivå interaktionen mellan modellsystem av cellulosa samt cellulosafiber (sulfatfibrer från björk) och hur denna interaktion påverkas vid tillsats av en rad styrkekemikalier. Fibrer med olika initial ytladdning studerades med avseende på adsorption av katjonstärkelse, följt av efterföljande adsorption av anjonisk polyakrylamid eller anjoniska polyelektrolytkomplex. Resultaten visar att mättnadsadsorptionen av katjonstärkelse vid en jonstyrka motsvarande 0,01 M NaCl har linjärt proportionell mot fiberns ytladdning, medan den efterföljande adsorptionen av anjonisk polyakrylamid eller anjonisk polyakrylamid var oberoende av fibrernas initiala ytladdning. Högre fiberytladdning ökade mättnadsadsorptionen av styrkekemikalierna, vilket också förbättrade de mekaniska egenskaperna hos ark tillverkade efter adsorption av dessa kemikalier. Böjstyvheten hos arken förbättrades av tillsats av katjonstärkelse och ökade ytterligare vid ytterligare tillsats av både anjoniska polyelektrolytkomplex och anjonisk polyakrylamid. Arkens densitet förändrades inte nämnvärt till följd av styrkekemikalierna. Katjoniska styrkekemikalier undersöktes också på tre olika modellmaterial: filmer och kulor av regenererade cellulosa samt filament tillverkade av. På cellulosafilmerna studerades i detalj adsorptionen av styrkekemikalierna (katjonstäke, QC 2022-12-20Embargo godkänt Mikael Lindström, skolchef CBH, via e-post 2022-12-20

The use of paper dry strength additives is oneof the methods for producing packaging boards with alower grammage while maintaining mechanical properties.In the present work, papers were formed using dissolvinggrade kraft fibres, kraft fibres and carboxymethylatedcellulose (CMC) modified kraft fibres (C-kraft fibres),with either cationic starch (CS), anionic polyacrylamide(APAM) or anionic polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). Fibresand sheets were characterized to evaluate how the saturationadsorption of the different strength additives influencesthe properties of the treated fibres and the finalhandsheets. The tensile index of papers made from C-kraftfibres was the highest due to the highest adsorption capacityof strength additives. Moreover, the strength additivesincreased the tensile index by 33–84 %, while z-directional tensile strength was increased dramatically by 46–139 %.Bending stiffness was improved by 2.6–25 %, and the combination of CS and APAM or PECs resulted in a significantimprovement in bending stiffness compared to the addition of CS alone. Importantly, the strength improvement did not sacrifice the density significantly. In summary, theknowledge gained from the current study expands the understanding of strength additives and their relationship with fibres of different surface charge and the overall paper properties., QC 20221227

Light-weight paper products that contain less fibres, but with a maintained bulk and improved strength properties, are highly desirable due to the low cost of raw materials and improved logistics of packaged goods. In this respect, the adsorption capacity of dry strength additives onto fibres, which is affected by the surface charge of said fibres, is very important for the development of these mechanically robust paper products. The influence of the surface charge on the adsorption of strength additives was investigated for, dissolving grade fibres, kraft fibres and kraft fibres modified with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with different surface charge densities, but the same fibre dimensions. The strength additives investigated were cationic starch (CS), anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) and polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), containing CS and APAM. A linear relationship was found between the surface charge of the fibres and the saturated adsorbed amount of CS. However, when either APAM or PECs adsorbed as secondary layers onto the CS, no correlation between cellulose charge and the saturation adsorption could be observed. The adsorption of APAM was dramatically affected by the pre-adsorbed amount of CS, whereas PECs were less influenced. Moreover, the additives improved the tensile strength (60%) and strain at break (> 100%) of handsheets formed with the kraft fibres and adsorbed APAM. It was also found that CS/APAM increased the sheet density while CS/PECs lowered it. In conclusion, the gained fundamental understanding of these adsorption of additives is of significant importance to facilitate the industrial development of sustainable low-cost high-end packaging products. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.], QC 20221027

The need for achieving sustainable technologies has encouraged research on renewable and biodegradable materials for novel products that are clean, green, and environmentally friendly. Nanocellulose (NC) has many attractive properties such as high mechanical strength and flexibility, large specific surface area, in addition to possessing good wet stability and resistance to tough chemical environments. NC has also been shown to easily integrate with other materials to form composites. By combining it with conductive and electroactive materials, many of the advantageous properties of NC can be transferred to the resulting composites. Conductive polymers, in particular poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), have been successfully combined with cellulose derivatives where suspensions of NC particles and colloids of PEDOT:PSS are made to interact at a molecular level. Alternatively, different polymerization techniques have been used to coat the cellulose fibrils. When processed in liquid form, the resulting mixture can be used as a conductive ink. This review outlines the preparation of NC/PEDOT:PSS composites and their fabrication in the form of electronic nanopapers, filaments, and conductive aerogels. We also discuss the molecular interaction between NC and PEDOT:PSS and the factors that affect the bonding properties. Finally, we address their potential applications in energy storage and harvesting, sensors, actuators, and bioelectronics., QC 20221114

Nucleic Acid Amplification Tests (NAATs) with PCR technology to amplify DNA, are the golden standard for infectious disease diagnostics, but they require benchtop instruments and trained users to be performed. For this reason, we all had to send PCR test to centralized laboratories during the Covid-19 pandemic. A year into the pandemic, home-based antigen paper-based tests became available for Covid, but these were not as sensitive, so PCR tests had to be used still. This development emphasized the need for technologies that enable NAATs with superior sensitivity to be performed at home. There are three technological advanced that could make such tests possible: 1) Paper based devices, called paper microfluidics, have been developed to enable more advanced steps of testing without laboratory equipment. These paper-based system incorporate advanced functionality and multiple reaction steps. 2) New DNA amplification techniques, called isothermal amplification, have been developed which, contrary to PCR, can be run without a thermocycler, enabling DNA amplification to be carried out even inside a paper. 3) Several methods to detect DNA have been shown using paper. One step that is still largely unsolved in NAATs is the sample preparation step, hindering the development of fully paper-based NAATs. In sample preparation, nucleic acids are extracted from bacteria or virus, usually using reagents harmful to DNA amplification. These steps are thereofore complicated and require several washing steps and heating, and are therefore difficult to integrate into paper. In this thesis, we used a simple, cost-effective, and scalable method to incorporate sample preparation in paper, thus taking NAATs towards point of care. We solve this problem by immobilizing enzymes that are used for sample preparation on nitrocellulose paper. The immobilized enzymes remain functional and can be used for biochemical reactions, while they are strongly bound to the paper. This method enables the, DNA tester också kallade NAAT tester, utförs idag med PCR-teknik, som först detekterar en specifik DNA och sedan replikerar den för detektion av infektionssjukdomar. PCR tester kräver dock instrument och utbildade personal. Av denna anledning var vi alla tvungna att skicka PCR-test till centraliserade laboratorier under COVID-19-pandemin. Ett år in i pandemin blev antigen pappersbaserade tester tillgängliga för hemtestning, men dessa var fortfarande inte tillräckligt känsliga och PCR-testerna behövde fortfarande användas. Denna utveckling visade behovet av att tillgängliggöra NAAT för hemmabruk. Det har på senare tid gjorts tre tekniska framsteg som för oss närmare sådana tester:_1) Pappersbaserade tester, så kallade pappers mikrofluidik, har utvecklats, för att möjliggöra mer avancerade tester. Dessa pappersbaserade system innehåller avancerad funktionalitet och flera reaktionssteg. 2) Nya DNA-amplifieringstekniker som kallas isotermisk amplifiering har utvecklats. Dessa kan i motsats till PCR köras utan maskiner, under konstant temperatur, och därmed blir DNA-amplifiering möjlig att utföra även inuti ett papper. 3) Flera metoder för att detektera DNA-metoder har visats med papper. Ett steg som fortfarande inte är helt löst är provberedningssteget för NAAT. I provberedningen extraheras nukleinsyror från bakterier eller virus, vanligtvis genom användning av reagenser som är förstörr DNA-amplifiering. Provbredning är därför komplicerade. Dom kräver flera tvättsteg och uppvärmning och är därför svåra att integrera i papper. I det här arbetet använde vi en enkel, kostnadseffektiv och skalbar metod för att integrera provberedning i papper. Våra resultat tar oss ett steg närmare DNA självtestning. Vi löser problemet med provbredning genom att immobilisera relevanta enzymer på nitrocellulosapapper. Dessa immobiliserade enzymer förblir funktionella och kan sedan utföra biokemiska reaktioner, samtidigt som de är starkt bundna till papperet. Denna metod möjliggör separation, QC 2022-11-03

QC 20221114

Cellulose nanofibril-based aerogels have promising applicability in various fields; however, developing an effi-cient technique to functionalize and tune their surface properties is challenging. In this study, physically and covalently crosslinked cellulose nanofibril-based aerogel-like structures were prepared and modified by a mo-lecular layer-by-layer (m-LBL) deposition method. Following three m-LBL depositions, an ultrathin polyamide layer was formed throughout the aerogel and its structure and chemical composition was studied in detail. Analysis of model cellulose surfaces showed that the thickness of the deposited layer after three m-LBLs was approximately 1 nm. Although the deposited layer was extremely thin, it led to a 2.6-fold increase in the wet specific modulus, improved the acid-base resistance, and changed the aerogels from hydrophilic to hydrophobic making them suitable materials for oil absorption with the absorption capacity of 16-36 g/g. Thus, demon-strating m-LBL assembly is a powerful technique for tailoring surface properties and functionality of cellulose substrates., QC 20220502

The drying behavior of regenerated cellulose gel beads swollen with different nonsolvents (e.g., water, ethanol, water/ethanol mixtures) is studied in situ on the macroscopic scale with an optical microscope as well as on nanoscale using small-angle/wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) techniques. Depending on the cellulose concentration, the structural evolution of beads during drying follows one of three distinct regimes. First, when the cellulose concentration is lower than 0.5 wt %, the drying process comprises three steps and, regardless of the water/ethanol mixture composition, a sharp structural transition corresponding to the formation of a cellulose II crystalline structure is observed. Second, when the cellulose concentration is higher than 5.0 wt %, a two-step drying process is observed and no structural transition occurs for any of the beads studied. Third, when the cellulose concentration is between 0.5 and 5.0 wt %, the drying process is dependent on the nonsolvent composition. A three-step drying process takes place for beads swollen with water/ethanol mixtures with a water content higher than 20%, while a two-step drying process is observed when the water content is lower than 20%. To describe the drying behavior governed by the cellulose concentration and nonsolvent composition, a simplified phase diagram is proposed., QC 20220429

In the quest to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly materials, cellulose is a promising alternative to synthetic polymers. However, native cellulose, in contrast to many synthetic polymers, cannot be melt-processed with traditional techniques because, upon heating, it degrades before it melts. One way to improve the thermoplasticity of cellulose, in the form of cellulose fibers, is through chemical modification, for example, to dialcohol cellulose fibers. To better understand the importance of molecular interactions during melt processing of such modified fibers, we undertook a molecular dynamics study of dialcohol cellulose nanocrystals with different degrees of modification. We investigated the structure of the nanocrystals as well as their interactions with a neighboring nanocrystal during mechanical shearing, Our simulations showed that the stress, interfacial stiffness, hydrogen-bond network, and cellulose conformations during shearing are highly dependent on the degree of modification, water layers between the crystals, and temperature. The melt processing of dialcohol cellulose with different degrees of modification and/or water content in the samples was investigated experimentally by fiber extrusion with water used as a plasticizer. The melt processing was easier when increasing the degree of modification and/or water content in the samples, which was in agreement with the conclusions derived from the molecular modeling. The measured friction between the two crystals after the modification of native cellulose to dialcohol cellulose, in some cases, halved (compared to native cellulose) and is also reduced with increasing temperature. Our results demonstrate that molecular modeling of modified nanocellulose fibers can provide fundamental information on the structure-property relationships of these materials and thus is valuable for the development of new cellulose-based biomaterials., QC 20230607

The next generation of green ion selective membranes is foreseen to be based on cellulosic nanomaterials with controllable properties. The introduction of ionic groups into the cellulose structure via chemical modification is one strategy to obtain desired functionalities. In this work, bleached softwood fibers are oxidatively sulfonated and thereafter homogenized to liberate the cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from the fiber walls. The liberated CNFs are subsequently used to prepare and characterize novel cellulose membranes. It is found that the degree of sulfonation collectively affects several important properties of the membranes via the density of fixed charged groups on the surfaces of the CNFs, in particular the membrane morphology, water uptake and swelling, and correspondingly the ionic transport. Both ionic conductivity and cation transport increase with the increased level of sulfonation of the starting material. Thus, it is shown that the chemical modification of the CNFs can be used as a tool for precise and rational design of green ion selective membranes that can replace expensive conventional fluorinated ionomer membranes., QC 20230614

Thorough characterization and fundamental understanding of cellulose fibers can help us develop new, sustainable material streams and advanced functional materials. As an emerging nanomaterial, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) have high specific surface area and good mechanical properties; however, handling and processing challenges have limited their widespread use. This work reports an in-depth characterization of self-fibrillating cellulose fibers (SFFs) and their use in smart, responsive filters capable of regulating flow and retaining nanoscale particles. By combining direct and indirect characterization methods with polyelectrolyte swelling theories, it was shown that introduction of charges and decreased supramolecular order in the fiber wall were responsible for the exceptional swelling and nanofibrillation of SFFs. Different microscopy techniques were used to visualize the swelling of SFFs before, during, and after nanofibrillation. Through filtration and pH adjustment, smart filters prepared via in situ nanofibrillation showed an ability to regulate the flow rate through the filter and a capacity of retaining 95% of 300 nm (diameter) silica nanoparticles. This exceptionally rapid and efficient approach for making smart filters directly addresses the challenges associated with dewatering of CNFs and bridges the gap between science and technology, making the widespread use of CNFs in high-performance materials a not-so-distant reality., QC 20220406

Multifunctional, light-weight, responsive materials show promise in a range of applications including soft robotics, therapeutic delivery, advanced diagnostics and charge storage. This paper presents a novel, scalable, efficient and sustainable approach for the preparation of cellulose nanofibril-based aerogels via a facile ice-templating, solvent exchange and air-drying procedure, which could replace existing inefficient drying processes. These ambient-dried aerogels (similar to 99% porosity) exhibit a high specific compressive modulus (26.8 +/- 6.1 kPa m(3) kg(-1), approaching equivalence of carbon-nanotubereinforced aerogels), wet stability and shape recovery (80-90%), favorable specific surface area (90 m(2) g(-1)) and tunable densities (2-20 kg m(-3)). The aerogels provide an ideal nanofibrillar substrate for in-situ growth of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), via co-assembly of MOF precursors with proteins in aqueous solutions. The resulting hybrid aerogels show a nine-fold increase in surface area (810 m(2)g(-1)), with preserved wet stability and additional protein biofunctionality. The hybrid aerogels facilitate a pH-controlled release of immobilized proteins, following a concomitant disassembly of the surface grown MOFs, demonstrating their use in controlled delivery systems. The colorimetric protein binding assay of the biofunctionalized hybrid aerogel also demonstrates the potential of the material as a novel 3D bioassay platform, which could potentially be an alternative to plate-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay., QC 20211123

The current knowledge about the formation of layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assemblies using combinations of nanocelluloses (NCs) and polyelectrolytes is reviewed. Herein, the fundamentals behind the LbL formation, with a major focus on NCs, are considered. Following this, a special description of the limiting factors for the formation of LbLs of only NCs, both anionic and cationic, and the combination of NCs and polyelectrolytes/nanoparticles is provided. The ability of the NCs and polyelectrolytes to form dense films with excellent mechanical properties and with tailored optical properties is then reviewed. How low-density, wet stable networks of cellulose nanofibrils can be used as substrates for the preparation of antibacterial, electrically interactive, and fire-retardant materials by forming well-defined LbLs inside these networks is then considered. A short outlook of the possible uses of LbLs containing NCs is given to conclude., QC 20211014

Large deformations under in-plane compression of paperboard appear in forming processes like hydroforming, pressforming and deep drawing, but the mechanisms of deformation have not been studied on a micromechanical level. A constrained in-plane compression test is presented. This test allows for in-plane compression, buckling, wrinkling and compaction. The constrained compression test is realized using a DEBEN CT-500 in-situ tester for laboratory microtomography and synchrotron microtomography. Experiments with five different materials spanning from laboratory handsheets to commercially available multi-layered paperboards are performed. Image processing is used to observe the local out-of-plane fiber orientation and compaction. A phenomenological investigation of the deformation behavior of these materials is presented. Delamination is found to be the primary mechanisms of failure in the multi-layered boards. Furthermore, a porous network structure, created by using long and minimally refined softwood fibers, is found to facilitate the formation of uniform wrinkles and compaction., QC 20211018

Dewatering in the preparation of cellulose nano-papers can take up to a few hours, which is a notable bottleneck in the commercialization of nanopapers. As a solution, we report a filtration-free method that is capable of preparing lactic acid-modified cellulose nanopapers within a few minutes. The bleached cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), obtained using a Masuko grinder, were functionalized by sonication-assisted lactic acid modification and centrifuged at 14 000 rpm to achieve a doughlike, concentrated mass. The concentrated CNFs were rolled into a wet sheet and dried in a vacuum drier to obtain nanopapers. The nanopaper preparation time was 10 min, which is significantly faster than the earlier time period reported in the literature (up to a few hours of preparation time). The mechanical properties of nanopaper were comparable to the previous values reported for nanopapers. In addition, the method was successfully used to prepare highly conductive functional nanopapers containing carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes., QC 20210819

The adsorption of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) on cellulose surfaces is of relevance from both academic and industrial perspectives as it facilitates resource-efficient modification of cellulose fibres that allows them to carry negative charges. It is known that, compared to monovalent ions, Ca2+ ions are superior ions in facilitating CMC adsorption and the subsequent introduction of charge on cellulose fibres. However, the formation and deposition of calcium oxide involved in this process necessitates the search for alternative cations. Magnesium ions form one of the more promising candidates since they are already used in the pulping process to prevent cellulose degradation during peroxide bleaching. This work aims at elucidating the effects of the industrially relevant alkaline earth metal divalent cations Mg2+ and Ca2+ on the CMC adsorption process onto cellulose surfaces. Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM-D) technology was used to follow the adsorption in model systems in real time, whereas the adsorption of CMC on commercial fibres was studied using polyelectrolyte titrations, total organic carbon (TOC) analysis and conductometric titrations. This study shows that the presence of Ca2+ ions was more favourable for the adsorption of CMC to both types of cellulosic surfaces than Mg2+ ions. The distinction in the adsorption behaviour in the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ is suggested to be due to the differences in the polarizability of the ions. The findings are decisive in designing efficient industrial processes for the adsorption of polyelectrolytes to cellulose surfaces of similar charge., QC 20210903

PEDOT:PSS is the most widely used conducting polymer in organic and printed electronics. PEDOT:PSS films have been extensively studied to understand the morphology, ionic and electronic conductivity of the polymer. However, the polymer dispersion, which is used to cast or spin coat the films, is not well characterized and not well understood theoretically. Here, we study in detail the particle morphology, size, charge density and zeta potential (z-potential) by coarse-grained MD simulations and dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements, for different pH levels and ionic strengths. The PEDOT:PSS particles were found to be 12 nm–19 nm in diameter and had a z-potential of −30 mV to −50 mV when pH was changed from 1.7 to 9, at an added NaCl concentration of 1 mM, as measured by DLS. These values changed significantly with changing pH and ionic strength of the solution. The charge density of PEDOT:PSS particles was also found to be dependent on pH and ionic strength. Besides, the distribution of different ions (PSS−, PEDOT+, Na+, Cl−) present in the solution is simulated to understand the particle morphology and molecular origin of z-potential in PEDOT:PSS dispersion. The trend in change of particle size, charge density and z- potential with changing pH and ionic strength are in good agreement between the simulations and experiments. Our results show that the molecular model developed in this work represents very well the PEDOT:PSS nano-particles in aqueous dispersion. With this study, we hope to provide new insight and an in-depth understanding of the morphology and z-potential evolution in PEDOT:PSS dispersion., QC 20210518

Over the past decades, concerns for the environment have increased and efforts to achieve a sustainable society have intensified. One particular challenge is to replace fossil-based plastics with biodegradable materials produced from renewable resources. Cellulose nanofibril (CNF)-based materials are strong candidates due to their excellent mechanical properties, nano-dimensions and molecular structure, which is suitable for modification. CNFs can be obtained from wood and are elongated, often charged, particles which are usually handled in aqueous dispersions. The colloidal stability is sensitive, and instability results in aggregation or transition to an arrested state. Since the properties of CNF-based materials rely on dispersion of the CNFs, an understanding of the colloidal behaviour is crucial. This work has focused on the interactions and dynamics of CNFs in different colloidal states. Arrested states of CNFs were studied in detail and it was found that two types of arrested state exist, with different colloidal interactions and mechanisms governing their formation. The dynamics in arrested and dispersed states were studied by tracer diffusion measurements, and it was found that small amounts of CNFs can constitute an excellent stabiliser for other particle dispersions according to a so far unexplored mechanism. The effects of altering the colloidal interactions using different strategies were also evaluated. The counterions of CNFs were exchanged and the impact on the swelling behaviour was measured. Based on the results, different contributions to the counterion-dependent interactions are discussed. Two strategies for using polymers to alter the interactions were furthermore studied. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was grafted to CNFs in order to increase the arrested state threshold concentration. PEG, carboxymethyl cellulose and lignin, were also used as additives which improved the redispersion of dried CNF, especially in the case of samples containing lignin, Under de senaste decennierna har oron för miljön ökat och strävan mot ett hållbart samhälle har intensifierats. En del i utmaningen är att ersätta fossilbaserad plast med bionedbrytbara material producerade från förnyelsebara råvaror. Cellulosa nanofibrill (CNF)-baserade material är starka kandidater för detta tack vare deras nanostorlek, utmärkta mekaniska egenskaper och gynnsamma molekylära struktur för kemisk modifiering. CNF kan utvinnas från träd och är avlånga, ofta laddade, partiklar som oftast hanteras i vattendispersioner. Den kolloidala stabiliteten styrs av subtila växelverkningar, och instabilitet leder till aggregering eller övergång till ett volymsomfattande låst tillstånd. Egenskaperna hos CNF-baserade material påverkas av hur väl dispergerade fibrillerna är, därmed är det viktigt att förstå de faktorer som styr det kolloidala beteendet. Detta arbete har fokuserat på interaktionerna och dynamiken hos CNF i olika kolloidala tillstånd. Låsta tillstånd av CNF undersöktes och resultaten visade att det finns två typer av låsta tillstånd, med olika interaktioner och mekanismer som ligger bakom hur de genereras. Dynamiken i olika kolloidala tillstånd undersöktes genom att mäta diffusionen av sfäriska partiklar i systemen, och det påvisades att små mängder CNF kan skapa en stabilitet hos andra partiklar via en ny, ännu inte helt utredd, mekanism. De kolloidala interaktionerna modifierades på olika sätt för att klarlägga effekterna på CNFs associationstillstånd. I en serie försök undersöktes hur ett byte av motjoner till ytladdningarna påverkade växelverkan genom att mäta svällningen av nanopapper. Vidare undersöktes två strategier där polymerer användes för att öka repulsionen mellan CNFs. Polyetylenglykol (PEG) kopplades kovalent till CNF för att förhöja koncentrationen för övergången till ett låst tillstånd. PEG, karboximetylcellulosa och lignin användes även som additiv vilket förbättrade återdispergeringen av torkad CNF, speciellt när lignin användes., QC 2020-10-27

Fluorescently labeled cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were used to evaluate CNF leaching from paper according to standard safety assays for food contact materials. Enzymatically pretreated pulp was first labeled with 5-([4,6-Dichlorotriazin-2-yl]amino)fluorescein hydrochloride (DTAF), followed by homogenization to produce fluorescent CNFs of varying degrees of fibrillation. Labeling at the μmolar DTAF/g cellulose level imparted quantitative ppb fluorescence detection of CNFs (LOD of approximately 20 ppb), without significantly altering other material properties, suggesting that DTAF-labeled CNFs are an appropriate mimic for native CNFs and that this approach can be used to detect low CNF concentrations. Cold and hot-water extractions of laboratory papers (100 % CNFs and CNF-fiber blended papers) showed loss values below 3 wt% CNFs, with the finest CNF quality showing the least loss overall and with greater loss experienced under hot water conditions compared with cold water. DTAF-labeled CNFs can be used to address questions related to CNF distribution, localization, and loss., QC 20201222

Nucleic acid tests integrated into digital point-of-care (POC) diagnostic systems have great potential for the future of health care. However, current methods of DNA amplification and detection require bulky and expensive equipment, many steps, and long process times, which complicate their integration into POC devices. We have combined an isothermal DNA amplification method, recombinase polymerase amplification, with an electrochemical stem-loop (S-L) probe DNA detection technique. By combining these methods, we have created a system that is able to specifically amplify and detect as few as 10 copies/mu L Staphylococcus epidermidis DNA with a total time to result of 70-75 min., QC 20200630

Industrial production of low-charge microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) typically results in wide fibril size distributions. This polydispersity influences viscosity, overall colloidal stability, and rheological properties of MFC suspensions and gels in aqueous systems. In this work, a systematic rheological analysis is performed for industrially prepared MFC and fractions of different size distributions. Gel formation and flow characteristics (e.g., shear-thinning) of each fraction are examined under neutral and acidic conditions and compared with the unfractionated MFC suspension. The effects of size, aspect ratio, and surface charge on the rheology of semi-dilute MFC suspensions are discussed. The results demonstrate that particle size and aspect ratio distribution control the viscoelasticity and shear-thinning properties of MFC suspensions. An increased fraction of small diameter nanofibrils, by ex situ addition of the fine particles with high aspect ratio or removal of the coarsest particles (with lower aspect ratio) by fractionation, significantly enhances the storage modulus and the yield stress of the complex mixture, compared to the properties of the coarser fractions. New insights are also reported on the tailoring of the rheology of highly polydisperse fibrillar mixtures, where the rheological contributions of each fraction are discussed. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]., QC 20201201

Seawater desalination and wastewater purification technologies are the main strategies against the global fresh water shortage. Among these technologies, solar-driven evaporation is effective in extracting fresh water by efficiently exploiting solar energy. However, building a sustainable and low-cost solar steam generator with high conversion efficiency is still a challenge. Here, pure organic aerogels comprising a cellulose scaffold decorated with an organic conducting polymer absorbing in the infrared are employed to establish a high performance solar steam generator. The low density of the aerogel ensures minimal material requirements, while simultaneously satisfying efficient water transport. To localize the absorbed solar energy and make the system floatable, a porous floating and thermal-insulating foam is placed between the water and the aerogel. Thanks to the high absorbance of the aerogel and the thermal-localization performance of the foam, the system exhibits a high water evaporation rate of 1.61 kg m−2 h−1 at 1 kW m−2 under 1 sun irradiation, which is higher than most reported solar steam generation devices., QC 20200707

The need for renewable alternatives for fossil-based aromatic material constituents is evident for a more sustainable society. Lignin is the largest source of naturally occurring aromatic compounds but has mainly been considered as waste material or energy source in the pulp and paper industry. Developments in extracting lignin from these processes provide a large source for renewable aromatic structures to be used in various applications. Producing thermosets out of lignin is a very promising route to utilize this raw material toward, for example, composite application. The buildup of the molecular network based on oligomeric lignin segments will be different from traditional thermoset analogues, where the constituents often are smaller molecules, and will have an effect on the material properties. In this work LignoBoost Kraft lignin is refined, chemically modified, and used to produce freestanding thermosets with different architectures and properties. These different thermosets are evaluated, and the possibilities to tailor the material properties through work-up and modification are demonstrated. Morphological studies on the formed thermosets using X-ray scattering show systematic differences in molecular stacking and aggregate sizes., QC 20200331

This study presents a novel, green, and efficient way of preparing crosslinked aerogels from cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and alginate using non-covalent chemistry. This new process can ultimately facilitate the fast, continuous, and large-scale production of porous, light-weight materials as it does not require freeze-drying, supercritical CO2 drying, or any environmentally harmful crosslinking chemistries. The reported preparation procedure relies solely on the successive freezing, solvent-exchange, and ambient drying of composite CNF-alginate gels. The presented findings suggest that a highly-porous structure can be preserved throughout the process by simply controlling the ionic strength of the gel. Aerogels with tunable densities (23-38 kg m(-3)) and compressive moduli (97-275 kPa) can be prepared by using different CNF concentrations. These low-density networks have a unique combination of formability (using molding or 3D-printing) and wet-stability (when ion exchanged to calcium ions). To demonstrate their use in advanced wet applications, the printed aerogels are functionalized with very high loadings of conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):tosylate (PEDOT:TOS) polymer by using a novel in situ polymerization approach. In-depth material characterization reveals that these aerogels have the potential to be used in not only energy storage applications (specific capacitance of 78 F g(-1)), but also as mechanical-strain and humidity sensors., QC 20210903

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Due to climate change and plastic pollution, there is an increasing demand for bio-based materials with similar properties to those of common plastics yet biodegradable. In this respect, cellulose is a strong candidate that is already being refined on a large industrial scale, but the properties differ significantly from those of common plastics in terms of shapeability and water-resilience. This thesis investigates how supramolecular interactions can be used to tailor the properties of cellulose-based materials by modifying cellulose surfaces or control the assembly of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). Most of the work is a fundamental study on interactions in aqueous environments, but some material concepts are presented and potential applications are discussed. The first part deals with the modification of cellulose by the spontaneous adsorption of xyloglucan or polyelectrolytes. The results indicate that xyloglucan adsorbs to cellulose due to the increased entropy of water released from the surfaces, which is similar to the increased entropy of released counter-ions that drives polyelectrolyte adsorption. The polyelectrolyte adsorption depends on the charge of the cellulose up to a limit after which the charge density affects only the first adsorbed layer in a multilayer formation. Latex nanoparticles with polyelectrolyte coronas can be adsorbed onto cellulose in order to prepare hydrophobic cellulose surfaces with strong and ductile wet adhesion, provided the glass transition of the core is below the ambient temperature. The second part of the thesis seeks to explain the interactions between different types of cellulose nanofibrils in the presence of different ions, using a model consisting of ion-ion correlation and specific ion effects, which can be employed to rationally design water-resilient and transparent nanocellulose films. The addition of small amounts of alginate also creates interpenetrating double networks, and these networks lead to a synergy which im, På grund av klimatförändringar och ständigt ökande plastföroreningar finns det en växande efterfrågan på biobaserade material med egenskaper som liknar dem hos vanliga plaster och som samtidigt är biologiskt nedbrytbara. I detta avseende är cellulosa är en stark kandidat som redan framställs i stor industriell skala, men egenskaperna skiljer sig markant från plasternas med avseende på formbarhet och vattentålighet. Denna avhandling undersöker hur supramolekylära interaktioner kan användas för att skräddarsy egenskaperna hos cellulosa-baserade material genom att modifiera cellulosaytor eller styra hur cellulosa nanofibriller (CNFs) sätts samman. Huvuddelen av arbetet berör grundläggande studier kring interaktioner i vatten, men några materialkoncept och potentiella tillämpningar diskuteras. Den första delen avhandlar hur spontan adsorption av xyloglukan eller polyelektrolyter kan användas för att modifiera cellulosa. Resultaten indikerar att xyloglukan adsorberar till cellulosa på grund av den ökade entropin hos vatten som frigörs från ytorna, vilket liknar den ökade entropin hos frigjorda motjoner som driver polyelektrolytadsorption. Adsorptionen av polyeletrolyter beror på cellulosans laddning upp till en viss gräns, varefter laddningstätheten endast påverkar adsorptionen i första lagret i en multilager formering. Adsorption av latexnanopartiklar med en korona av polyeletrolyter, ger hydrofoba cellulosaytor med stark och töjbar, våt vidhäftning, om kärnans glasövergång sker vid lägre temperatur än omgivningens. Syftet med den andra delen av avhandlingen är att förklara interaktioner mellan olika typer av cellulosa nanofibriller i närvaro av olika joner. Detta görs med en modell bestående av jon-jonkorrelation och specifika joneffekter, som kan användas för rationell design av vattentåliga och transparenta filmer av nanocellulosa. Tillsatsen av små mängder alginat skapar också interpenetrerande dubbla nätverk, och dessa nätverk leder till en synergi som förbättrar b, QC 20190411