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Effects of adding microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were evaluated relative to the mechanical, thermal, morphological, and structural properties of rigid polyurethanes (rPUs). The composites were prepared with the blending of polyols/isocyanates and the cellulosic fillers at 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% loadings. Scanning electron microscopic images showed that the samples had micro-scaled porosity, with cell sizes ranging from 250 to 800 nm. The fillers improved the mechanical strengths and modulus of neat rPUs due to the presence of the nano-sized cells in rPUs matrix. The addition of both fillers generally did not provide a positive effect on the thermal properties, and the weight loss generally increased while the loading rate of the fillers was increased from 0.25% to 1%. The samples had two small crystalline peaks at 18° and 19° according to the X-ray diffraction analysis. From the results, it can be said that the presence of both fillers generally improved all properties of the neat rPUs, and the effects of CNC on the properties were higher than MCC due to both lower particle size and the higher crystallinity of CNC.

In this study, novel tetradecylamine/MXene/cellulose nanocrystal composite phase change materials (TDA/MXene/CNC CPCMs) were prepared using a vacuum impregnation method. For the first time, lightweight MXene/CNC composite aerogel was employed as a support material in energy storage, with TDA serving as the phase change material. The latent heat of TDA/MXene/CNC CPCMs reached 221.5 J/g. Furthermore, the density of the MXene/CNC-2 composite aerogel was 0.0614 g/cm3, and its loading rate for TDA was as high as 90.6 wt%. Additionally, the thermal conductivity of TDA/MXene/CNC CPCM-5 was 0.491 W/(m·K), 1.87 times higher than that of pure TDA. The TDA/MXene/CNC CPCMs exhibited exceptional thermal stability up to 120 °C and maintained excellent shape stability at 60 °C. The composites exhibit a superior solar-thermal conversion ability with the conversion efficiency as high as 94.1%, The incorporation of MXene significantly enhances the photothermal conversion capability, providing an important avenue for the high-efficiency utilisation of solar energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are bioderived one-dimensional species with versatile surface chemistry and unique self-assembling behavior in aqueous solutions. This work presents a scientific approach to leverage these characteristics for creating CNC network templates and processing them to engineer a novel silicon (Si)-based material called silicon nano-quill (SiNQ) for energy storage applications. The SiNQ structure possesses a porous, tubular morphology with a substantial ability to store lithium ions while maintaining its structural integrity. The presence of Si suboxides in the SiNQ structure is demonstrated to be crucial for realizing a stable cycling performance. One of the defining attributes of SiNQ is its water dispersibility due to Si–H surface bonds, promoting water-based Si-graphite electrode manufacturing with environmental and economic benefits. The incorporation of only 17 wt% SiNQ enhances the capacity of graphitic anodes by ∼2.5 times. An initial coulombic efficiency of 97.5% is achieved by employing a versatile pre-lithiation. The SiNQ-graphite anodes with high active loading, when subjected to accelerated charging/discharging conditions at 5.4 mA cm−2, exhibit stable cycling stability up to 500 cycles and average coulombic efficiency of >99%. A generalized physics-based cyclic voltammetry model is presented to explain the remarkable behavior of SiNQs under fast-charging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has attracted tremendous attention for replacing petroleum‐based carbon black or mineral fillers with renewable, biology‐based and low‐cost cellulose. However, the reinforcing effect of cellulose, especially at the microscale, is still a great challenge in the polymer industry. In this work, a feasible surface modification method for microcrystalline cellulose powder (MCC) in all solid states is proposed by using rubber accelerators N‐cyclohexyl benzothiazole‐2‐sulphenamidee (CBS) and 2,2′‐dibenzothiazoledisulfide (DM). These accelerators not only accelerate the sulfur crosslink of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), but also graft to rubber molecular chains and form hydrogen bonds with MCC, resulting in good interfacial interaction and good dispersion of MCC in the NBR matrix. As a consequence, the tensile strength and elongation at break of NBR/10MCC reach up to 20.12 MPa and 511%, respectively, which are the highest values of NBR/MCC or cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) composites we can find in the world and are comparable to those of carbon black or mineral fillers. This provides a more effective and environmentally friendly way of using MCC or CNCs in the polymer industry. Highlights: Microcrystalline cellulose powder can reinforce NBR.Hydrogen bonds have been established between accelerators and MCC.The tensile strength of NBR/10MCC composite reaches 20 MPa.The reinforcing mechanism is ascribed to the immobilized rubber layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) obtained from biomass are increasingly demanding as a candidate for rubber composite reinforcement due to their sustainability and environmentally friendly characteristics. This work explored CNC extracted from oil palm trunks, an agricultural waste, for its reinforcing efficacy for natural rubber (NR) composite. To achieve good compatibility of the hydrophilic CNC in non‐polar NR, the NR was modified in a simple and green epoxidation condition via its latex stage. The epoxidized natural rubbers (ENR) containing 15% and 25% epoxide content, symbolized as 15E and 25E, respectively, were prepared. The ENR/CNC nanocomposites were fabricated by mixing CNC aqueous suspension and ENR latex, followed by co‐coagulation by methanol. A low amount of CNC (0.5–5 phr) was incorporated into the rubber and it was found that the ENR/CNC nanocomposites showed improvement in mechanical properties compared to the NR/CNC nanocomposite. The 25E/CNC nanocomposite with 1 phr of CNC achieved a 22.6% increase in tensile strength while the 25E/CNC nanocomposite with 2 phr of CNC resulted in a 27.1% increase in tear strength. The enhanced performance of the fully bio‐based rubber nanocomposites is attributed to the CNC–rubber interaction and good CNC dispersion in the ENR matrices, evidenced by the results of SEM and crosslink density. Highlights: Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) was successfully obtained from the oil palm trunk.NR was modified into epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) for increased polarity.ENR/CNC mixing was done in a simple and environmentally friendly latex process.Only 2 phr of CNC resulted in a 27.1% increased tear strength of rubber composite.SEM clearly evidenced improvement of CNC–ENR interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights To further increasing the toughness performance of thermoset resins without sacrificing their other properties is still a challenge task. In this study, the soft core–soft shell nanoparticles based on polydopamine‐modified cellulose nanocrystals (P‐CNC) were synthesized and seamlessly integrated with Bisphenol A‐aniline benzoxazine (BA‐a). Notably, the results underscore the remarkable impact of a mere 0.2 wt% of P‐CNC on BA‐a, boosting the impact strength of the modified system to 19.5 kJ/m2. This achievement represents a substantial 140.7% increase compared with pure polybenzoxazine. Moreover, the flexural strength reaches 133.4 MPa, surpassing pure polybenzoxazine by 16.2%. And the modified system exhibits a 10% weight loss temperature (Td10) at 321.7°C, accompanied by a char yield of 27.6%. This holistic approach results in a notable enhancement of the toughness performance while concurrently maintaining the flexural strength and the thermal stability of the modified system. Consequently, the integration of soft core–soft shell nanoparticles emerges as a promising strategy for enhancing thermoset resin properties without undermining their existing exceptional attributes. The core–shell nanoparticles were made by dopamine and cellulose nanocrystals. The core–shell nanoparticles can enhance the toughness of polybenzoxazine. Nanoparticle‐matrix interactions and deformation led to improved properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractOver recent decades there has been a significant surge in research interest aimed at developing novel composite materials derived from cellulose, catering to the diverse needs of industries such as paper, pharmaceuticals, and medicine. Aligned with this trend, our research project described here focused on leveraging cellulose to produce high-value-added products, particularly nanocomposite materials for reinforcement purposes. Our aim was to develop nanocomposite materials utilizing hydrolyzed cotton cellulose. To begin with we employed a straightforward, cost-effective and readily applicable process to extract nanocellulose from cotton fibers. The structural integrity of the resulting cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) was validated through various analytical methods such as UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analyses (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Raman spectroscopy. We conducted a comprehensive examination of the physicochemical properties of the CNCs, particularly investigating their dispersion behavior and solubility in both aqueous and selected organic solvents. In the final phase of our study, we explored the chemical modification of CNCs using maleic anhydride to produce cellulose maleate. The structural transformation was confirmed through infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The growing demand for electronics necessitates the development of novel environmentally responsible materials. A potential approach involves incorporating renewable and sustainable materials with mechanical and electrical properties while ensuring environmentally friendly disposal. Herein, this study reports the dielectric properties of chitosan (CS) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CN) extracted from post‐harvest tomato plant residue. The resulting bionanocomposite material demonstrated remarkable characteristics, including dielectricity, transparency, thermal stability, and mechanical robustness. Additionally, the effect of high‐loading fillers (5 and 10 wt %) on the final properties of the material is investigated, as well as the effect of surface functionality of the CNs. The results showed that both the high‐loading fillers and the surface functionality of the CNs had a significant impact on the properties of the nanocomposite material. The bionanocomposite materials produced in this study hold great potential as an eco‐friendly substitute for conventional electronic materials and beyond. Its dielectric, transparent, thermally stable, and mechanically robust properties render it well‐suited for diverse applications. The phosphorylated groups insured high Crl (%) and high interface between the filler and matrix. High interface and crystallinity enhanced the mechanical characteristics. Low crystallinity increases the dielectric constant, case of 5% CNS. Filler’ type can tailor and optimize the energy dissipation up to tan δ = 0.5 for 5% CNP. Detection of Warburg impedance proves the interface polarization presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of aqueous zinc (Zn) chemistry energy storage with high rate‐capability and long serving life is a great challenge due to its inhospitable coordination environment and dismal interfacial chemistry. To bridge this big gap, herein, we build a highly reversible aqueous Zn battery by taking advantages of the biomass‐derived cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) electrolyte additive with unique physical and chemical characteristics simultaneously. The CNCs additive not only serves as fast ion carriers for enhancing Zn2+ transport kinetics but regulates the coordination environment and interface chemistry to form dynamic and self‐repairing protective interphase, resulting in building ultra‐stable Zn anodes under extreme conditions. As a result, the engineered electrolyte system achieves a superior average coulombic efficiency of 97.27 % under 140 mA cm−2, and steady charge–discharge for 982 h under 50 mA cm−2, 50 mAh cm−2, which proposes a universal pathway to challenge aqueous Zn chemistry in green, sustainable, and large‐scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a novel combination of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and calcium oxide (CaO) nanocomposite (CaO/CNCs) for the production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil. The filter paper was used as a raw cellulose source to produce the CNCs from the acid hydrolysis of cellulose with sulfuric acid. The as-synthesized CaO/CNC nanocomposite is recyclable and environmentally friendly and was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The optimum process parameters investigated are a 20:1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, 3-weight percent catalyst concentration, 60 °C temperature, and 90 min of reaction time. Under the optimum conditions, a biodiesel yield of 84% was obtained. The CaO/CNC nanocomposite achieved five times reusability, indicating its effectiveness and reusability in the transesterification reaction. The synthesized biodiesel chemical composition was examined using FTIR, GCMS, 1H-NMR, and 13C-NMR, and its properties, including specific gravity, color, flash point, cloud point, pour point, viscosity, sulfur content, sediments, water content, total acid number, cetane number, and corrosion test, were ascertained using ASTM standard practices. The outcomes were determined to fulfill global biodiesel standards (ASTM 951, 6751). Five successive transesterification processes were used to test the regeneration of the catalyst; the first three showed no distinct change, while the fifth cycle showed a reduction of up to 79%. The innovative composite CaO/CNC and used cooking oil are stable, affordable, and extremely successful for long-term biodiesel generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the optimal delivery system of quercetin, in this paper, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) extracted from rice bran were used to stabilize the Pickering emulsion and Pickering emulsion gels (PEGs) with quercetin. To compare the emulsion properties, stability, antioxidation activity, encapsulation rate, and bioaccessibility of the quercetin, four emulsions of CNC Pickering emulsion (C), CNC Pickering emulsion with quercetin (CQ), CNC Pickering gel emulsion (CG), and CNC Pickering gel emulsions with quercetin (CQG) were prepared. All four emulsions exhibited elastic gel network structure and good stability. The quercetin significantly reduced the particle size, increased the stability, and improved the antioxidant capacity of CQ and CQG. Compared to C and CG, the ABTS+ radical scavenging capacities of CQ and CQG were respectively enhanced by 46.92% and 3.59%. In addition, CQG had a higher encapsulation rate at 94.57% and higher bioaccessibility (16.17) compared to CQ. This study not only indicated that CNC from rice bran could be exploited as an excellent stabilization particle for Pickering emulsions, but also provided a highly stable and bioaccessible delivery system for water-insoluble functional active factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L-poly(lactic acid), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), and poly-hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate are biodegradable polymers that can be obtained from renewable biomass sources. The aim of this study was to develop three types of environmentally friendly film biocomposites of altered microstructure by combining each of the above-mentioned polymers with cellulose nanocrystal fillers and further processing the resulting materials via space-confined solvent vapor annealing. Cellulose was previously obtained from renewable biomass and further converted to cellulose nanocrystals by hydrolysis with the lactic acid. The solutions of biodegradable polymers were spin-coated onto solid substrates before and after the addition of cellulose nanocrystals. The obtained thin film composites were further processed via space-confined solvent vapor annealing to eventually favor their crystallization and, thus, to alter the final microstructure. Indeed, atomic force microscopy studies have revealed that the presence of cellulose nanocrystals within a biodegradable polymer matrix promoted the formation of large crystalline structures exhibiting fractal-, spherulitic- or needle-like morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electromagnetic pollution problem is becoming increasingly serious due to the speedy advance of electronic communication devices. There are broad application prospects for the development of flexible, wearable composite films with high electromagnetic interference (EMI)-shielding performance. The MX@AC composite films were prepared from MXene, silver nanowires (AgNWs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with a sandwich structure. Benefiting from the upper and lower frame structure formed by winding 1D AgNWs and CNC, the tensile strength of the MX@AC was improved to 35 MPa (12.5 wt% CNC content) from 4 MPa (0 wt% CNC content). The high conductivity of MXene and AgNWs resulted in the MX@AC composite film conductivity up to 90,670 S/m, EMI SE for 90 dB, as well as SSE/t up to 7797 dB cm2 g−1. And the MX@AC composite film was tested for practical application, showing that it can effectively isolate electromagnetic waves in practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose is the most abundant naturally occurring macromolecule on earth, and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are obtained by removing the amorphous regions in cellulose to retain the crystalline regions. The high aspect ratio and high specific surface area of CNCs give them excellent mechanical properties. Meanwhile, as a typical bio-derived nanorod with chirality, they exhibit strong birefringence phenomenon and produce colorful and unique structural colors, so they are commonly used in anti-counterfeiting responsive sensors and so on. Chitosan (CS) is the only alkaline cationic macromolecule containing free amino groups in nature. Chitosan fibers are commonly used in the medical field because of their unique properties such as good biocompatibility, degradability, and rapid hemostasis. However, due to the high surface charge density and high dispersion of CNCs, fibers are difficult to form by wet spinning, and the generally low strength of CS fibers limits their practical application in life. Therefore, the two can be synergized to promote the spinning and forming of CNCs in CS as an effective way to prepare functional fibers. Currently, some researchers have also used CNCs as reinforcement base to compound with bio-based functional materials in order to expand the application areas of CNCs, but little research has been done on the characteristics of CNC assembly in composite fibers that would result in structural coloration. On this basis, this paper innovatively prepares chitosan/cellulose nanocrystalline(CS/CNC) composite fibers by wet spinning method, and compares the mechanical properties and unique optical characteristics of the CS/CNC blended fibers and CS/CNC sheath-core composite fibers prepared by different blending and coaxial spinning methods. In this paper, the effects of different concentrations and temperatures on the tensile rheological properties of CS solutions were firstly investigated, and it was found that 2.5% CS solution was suitable for spinning at 60 ℃. Secondly, different concentrations of sisal CNCs were used to prepare CS/CNC sheath-core composite fibers to analyze the effect of CNCs concentration on the mechanical properties of the fibers, and the results showed that the mechanical properties of the fibers prepared with 2.0% concentration of CNCs were the most suitable. Therefore, 2.5% CS solution with 2.0% concentration of CNCs was selected for the preparation of subsequent wet spinning. To compare the structure and properties of composite fibers prepared by different spinning methods, the structure of CS/CNC composite fibers was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. The comparison results showed that the FT-IR spectra of CS/CNC composite fibers were similar to those of CS fibers, with the main peak changes occurring in the characteristic absorption peaks between 3 650-3 200 cm-1. Due to the formation of new hydrogen and ionic bonds between CNC and CS, it is easy to form a network structure. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphological structure of the fibers. The results showed that the cross-sectional CNCs of the CS/CNC blended fibers were assembled chaotically and twisted, whereas the diagonal cross-section of the CS/CNC sheath-core composite fibers had a distinct skin-core structure and the CNCs were assembled in the core layer into a lamellar structure. To further investigate the lamellar structure of the core layer assembled with CNCs, polarized light microscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy tests were performed, and the CS/CNC sheath-core composite fibers showed two distinct positive peaks at 388 nm and 608 nm. It confirms that the core layer of CS/CNC sheath-core composite fibers has a left-handed helical nematic phase structure with uniform and orderly arrangement, and the fiber as a whole shows bright and orderly iridescent colors. The tensile mechanical properties of the fibers were tested, and the results showed that the mechanical properties of the CS/CNC sheath-core composite fibers were superior to those of the CS/CNC blended fibers, with an initial modulus of 489.40 cN/dtex, an elongation at break of 9.65%, and a breaking strength of 0.647 cN/dtex. The analysis by heat loss analysis and swelling property test showed that the thermal stability of CS/CNC composite fibers was more similar to that of CS fibers, and the network structure formed in the composite fibers could effectively impede the penetration of water molecules and improve the water resistance of CS/CNC composite fibers. The above results indicate that the CS/CNC sheath-core composite fibers prepared by the coaxial spinning method not only improve the mechanical properties of the fibers, but also have the unique optical characteristics, showing bright and orderly iridescent colors under polarized light. They are expected to be used for anti-counterfeiting clothing fabrics so as to further expand the application scope of CNC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cellulose nanocrystals derived from rice husk (CNC) using a chemical method combined with high‐pressure homogenisation, were investigated for their application in ice cream formulations. The physicochemical and sensory properties of ice cream with CNC at three different concentrations (0%, 0.15%, and 0.30% wt.) and two levels of whipping cream as fat content (5% and 10% wt.) were studied. The results indicate that increased CNC concentration enhanced the overrun and viscosity of the ice cream samples. Furthermore, 10% fat ice cream with 0.30% CNC exhibited higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to the others. The hardness and melting rate of the ice cream samples tended to decrease with higher fat levels and CNC concentrations. Moreover, CNC helped to improve the quality of low‐fat ice cream while still maintaining satisfactory sensory properties. Therefore, CNC has the potential as a stabiliser for ice cream to improve its overall properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Rodlike cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) exhibit significant potential as building blocks for creating uniform, sustainable materials. However, a critical hurdle lies in the need to enhance existing or devise novel processing that provides improved control over the alignment and arrangement of CNCs across a wide spatial range. Specifically, the challenge is to achieve orthotropic organization in a single-step processing, which entails creating non-uniform CNC orientations to generate spatial variations in anisotropy. A novel processing method combining frontal ultrafiltration (FU) and ultrasound (US) has been developed. A dedicated channel-cell was designed to simultaneously generate (1) a vertical acoustic force thanks to a vibrating blade at the top and (2) a transmembrane pressure force at the bottom. Time-resolved in situ small-angle X-ray scattering permitted to probe the dynamical structural organization/orientation of CNCs during the processing. For the first time, a typical three-layer orthotropic structure that resembles the articular cartilage organization was achieved in one step during the FU/US process: a first layer composed of CNCs having their director aligned parallel to the horizontal membrane surface, a second intermediate isotropic layer, and a third layer of CNCs with their director vertically oriented along the direction of US wave propagation direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the biodegradability of cellulose films was evaluated in controlled-moisture soil environments. The films were prepared from low-quality cotton fibers through dissolution in DMAc/LiCl, casting, regeneration, glycerol plasticization, and hot-pressing. Two soil burial degradation experiments were conducted in August 2020 (11th August to 13th October) and March 2021 (24th March to 24th July) under controlled moisture conditions to assess the biodegradation behavior of cellulose films. The films were retrieved from soil beds at seven-day intervals, and morphological and physicochemical changes in the films were investigated. The results indicated that the cellulose films exhibited gradual changes starting on Day 7 and major changes after Day 35. Stereomicroscopy images showed the growth and development of fungal mycelia on the surface of the films, and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of biomolecules originating from microorganisms. The tensile strength and elongation of cellulose films were significantly reduced by 64% and 96% in the first experiment and by 40% and 94% in the second experiment, respectively, during the degradation period. Degradation also significantly impacted the thermal stability (14% and 16.5% reduction, respectively, in the first and second studies) of the films. The cellulose-based films completely degraded within 63 days in late summer and 112 days in spring. This study demonstrates that, unlike synthetic plastics, films prepared from low-quality cotton fibers can easily degrade in the natural environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Producing environmentally benign and economically viable nanomaterials is critical for large-scale applications in energy and other industries. This study presents a modeling framework to identify environmentally greener and lower-cost pathways of large-scale nanomaterial production, which encompasses life cycle assessment, Green Chemistry principles, techno-economic analysis, and eco-efficiency analysis. The framework is demonstrated by case studies of cellulose nanomaterials produced in the U.S. For cellulose nanocrystals, the framework identifies pathways that simultaneously reduce the life-cycle global warming potential (GWP) from 17.7 to 2.6 kgCO2e per dry kg cellulose nanocrystals and the minimum selling price (MSP) from US$7540 to US$4587 per dry t cellulose nanocrystals. For cellulose nanofibrils, the strategies present trade-offs of reducing GWP from 7.8 to 0.1 kgCO2e per dry kg cellulose nanofibrils but increasing MSP slightly from US$2873 to US$2985 per dry t cellulose nanofibrils. Eco-efficiency analysis quantifies the magnitudes of co-benefits and trade-offs between the environmental and economic performance of different production strategies and supports decision making for sustainability-informed process optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial that highlights the significance of polymer processing techniques in the production of polymer components. It emphasizes the importance of using advanced modeling codes and experimental work to optimize polymer processing. The editorial presents several cutting-edge papers that contribute to the numerical, theoretical, and experimental knowledge of polymer physics. These papers cover a range of topics, including numerical methods for fluid flow simulations, non-Newtonian fluid mixing, molecular dynamics simulations of DNA polymers, theoretical models for polystyrene behavior, analytical solutions for polymer fluid flows, experimental investigations on drag-reducing polymers, characterization of thin films for energy storage, fabrication of cellulose nanocrystal-based materials, dynamic crushing performance of expanded polyethylene, and the influence of polycarboxylate ether superplasticizers on concrete behavior. The editorial concludes by stating that it serves as a valuable reference for researchers interested in staying updated on cutting-edge technologies in polymer physics. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] Aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) form a re-entrant liquid crystal (LC) phase with increasing salinity. Phase separation occurs in this LC state leading to a biphasic gel with a flow programmable structure that can be used to form anisotropic soft materials. We term this state a Liquid Crystal Hydroglass (LCH). Defining the mechanisms by which the LCH forms requires detailed structural analysis at the mesoscopic length scale. By utilising Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS), we investigated the microstructure transitions in CNC suspensions, with a particular focus on the unique LC re-entrancy and gelation into the biphasic LCH. Scattering from LCH gels comprises contributions from a dispersed liquid state and static heterogeneity, characterised using a Lorentzian-Gaussian model of inhomogeneity. This conceptually supports a gelation mechanism (spinodal decomposition) in CNC suspensions towards a biphasic structure of the LCH. It also demonstrates that, with increasing salinity, the non-monotonic variation in effective volume fraction of CNC rods fundamentally causes the LC re-entrancy. This work provides the first experimental characterisation of the LC-re-entrancy and formation of an anisotropic LCH gel. The proposed mechanism can be extended to understanding the general behaviour of anisotropic colloids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of developing advanced carbon aerogel (CA) supercapacitors, a rational design approach is introduced that utilizes often overlooked conjugated anions to modulate the properties of CAs. Ionic cross‐linking of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) aerogels ensures the preservation of structural integrity even after carbonization. Interestingly, anion selection not only influences the cross‐linking and carbonization processes but also significantly modulates the electrochemical performance of the resulting CAs. This is found to be vital in optimizing the overall supercapacitor performance. Electro‐assisted (EA) wetting of the electrodes procures an adaptive and progressive performance enhancement, heralding the advent of sustainable supercapacitors crafted from earth‐abundant materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents the optimization of the fabrication procedure for laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes intended for biopotentials acquisition. The results presented in this study demonstrate a significant improvement with respect to the performance obtained for other LIG-based electrodes previously reported in the literature. In particular, we propose the use of a galvanometric laser instead of a CNC laser to improve the engraving resolution and the LIG synthesis process, thus enhancing the surface area of the interface skin–electrode. For that, we have studied the resistance of the resulting LIG patterns as a function of the laser parameters (engraving power and scan speed) seeking their optimization. After tunning the laser fabrication process, we have fabricated and characterized electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes with different surface areas using a commercial silver-based electrode as a reference. Thus, circular electrodes with a diameter of 15 mm, 10 mm and 6.5 mm were used to acquire the ECG on different volunteers using a commercial equipment. The signals acquired were processed afterwards with cutting edge processing techniques to perform a statistical analysis in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive prediction and accuracy for the detection of QRS complexes. The results demonstrate that the proposed electrodes improve the signal acquisition with respect to the previously reported LIG-based electrodes in terms of noise and do present comparable or even better results than commercial electrodes (even with a smaller surface area) with the additional advantage of not requiring the use of an electrolyte gel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different microscopy and scattering methods used in the literature to determine the dimensions of cellulose nanocrystals derived from cotton and bacterial cellulose were compared to investigate potential bias and discrepancies. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), depolarized dynamic light scattering (DDLS), and static light scattering (SLS) were compared. The lengths, widths, and heights of the particles and their respective distributions were determined by AFM. In agreement with previous work, the CNCs were found to have a ribbon-like shape, regardless of the source of cellulose or the surface functional groups. Tip broadening and agglomeration of the particles during deposition cause AFM-derived lateral dimensions to be systematically larger those obtained from SAXS measurements. The radius of gyration determined by SLS showed a good correlation with the dimensions obtained by AFM. The hydrodynamic lateral dimensions determined by DDLS were found to have the same magnitude as either the width or height obtained from the other techniques; however, the precision of DDLS was limited due to the mismatch between the cylindrical model and the actual shape of the CNCs, and to constraints in the fitting procedure. Therefore, the combination of AFM and SAXS, or microscopy and small-angle scattering, is recommended for the most accurate determination of CNC dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulosic aerogels are sustainable, biodegradable, and ultra-light porous materials with three-dimensional networks having high specific surface area. Depending on the source of precursor materials, they are categorized into plant-based aerogel, bacterial cellulosic aerogel. Different types of aerogels are also produced from microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), cellulose microfibril (CMF) and cellulose nanofibril (CNF). Furthermore, inorganic and organic substances are embedded to produce hybrid aerogel or composite aerogel for the enhancement of its performance in various fields. Mixing, gelation, solvent exchange, and drying (e.g., super critical carbon dioxide or freeze drying) are the basic steps involved in cellulosic aerogel synthesis. Based on the composition of precursors during aerogel synthesis, cellulosic aerogels have broad applications in various fields such as adsorbents, electrodes, sensors, captive deionization materials, catalysts, drug delivery, thermal and sound insulating materials. This review provided consolidated information on: (i) classification of cellulosic aerogels based on the sources of raw materials, (ii) processes involved to produce the cellulosic aerogel, (iii) cellulosic aerogel synthesized from MCC, NCC, CMF and CNF, (iv) nano particle doped cellulosic aerogel, and (v) its application in various field with future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presently, due to growing global energy demand and depletion of existing oil reservoirs, oil industry is focussing on development of novel and effective ways to enhance crude oil recovery and exploration of new oil reserves, which are typically found in challenging environment and require deep drilling in high temperature and high-pressure regime. The nanocelluloses with numerous advantages such as high temperature and pressure stability, ecofriendly nature, excellent rheology modifying ability, interfacial tension reduction capability, etc., have shown a huge potential in oil recovery over conventional chemicals and macro/micro sized biopolymers-based approach. In present review, an attempt has been made to thoroughly investigate the potential of nanocellulose (cellulose nanocrystals/nanofibers) in development of drilling fluid and in enhancement of oil recovery. The impact of various factors such as nanocellulose shape, charge density, inter-particle or inter-fibers interactions after surface functionalization, rheometer geometries, additives, post processing techniques, etc., which provides insight into the attributes of nanocellulose suspension and exemplify their behaviour during oil recovery have also been reviewed and discussed. Finally, the conclusion and challenges in utility of nanocellulose for oilfield applications are addressed. Knowing how to adjust/quantify nanocrystals/nanofibers shape and size; and monitor their interactions might promote their utility in oilfield industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Myofibrillar proteins (MP) and two forms of nanocellulose (cellulose nanofibers [CNFs] and cellulose nanocrystals [CNCs]) were used to prepare oil‐in‐water emulsion. The effect of CNFs and CNCs on the properties of pork MP‐lard emulsion was studied by analysing the emulsion index, microstructure, oil droplet size, zeta potential and rheological behaviour of emulsion. The results showed that both CNFs and CNCs improved MP‐lard emulsion stability. At the same nanofiber concentration, the creaming index of CNFs stabilised emulsion was lower than that of CNCs stabilised emulsion, especially at the concentration of 0.5%, emulsion prepared with CNFs has no phenomenon of creaming index, while emulsion prepared with CNCs still has creaming index phenomenon. At the same nanofiber concentration, the oil droplet distribution of CNFs stabilised emulsion was more uniform, especially at low concentrations (≤0.5%). At higher cellulose concentration (≥0.75%), the particle size of CNFs stabilised emulsion was larger than that of CNCs stabilised emulsion. CNFs stabilised emulsion had a higher zeta potential and modulus than that of CNCs stabilised emulsion and the emulsion formed by CNFs was more viscoelastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multifunctional grafted cellulose nanocrystals derivative adsorbent (composites) with carboxyl, amide, and secondary amino groups was successfully developed for Cd2+ removal. The characteristics of CNCs, chitosan, and nanocomposites were determined using FTIR, TGA, SEM, and BET. The approaches of artificial intelligence and Response Surface Methodology modeling were employed, as well as how well they predicted response (adsorption capacity). The adsorption isotherm and kinetic models were applied to comprehend the process further. Statistical results demonstrated that The response surface model approach performed better than the artificial neural network model approach. The adsorption capacity was 440.01 mg/g with a starting pH of 5.65, a duration of contact of 315 minutes, a starting concentration of 333 mg/L, and an adsorbent dose of 16.93 mg. The FTIR examination revealed that the functional groups of the nanocomposites were equivalent to those of CNCs and chitosan; however, the nanocomposites were more thermally stable than CNCs and chitosan. The nanocomposites' SEM pictures revealed a porous structure, thin particle size, and needle-like shape. The Langmuir model explains the spontaneous nature of the adsorption process, and chemisorption served as the primary control. According to the Dubinin-Radushkevich Model, to adsorb Cd2+, the energy required is larger than 8 kJ mol-1, suggesting that the chemisorption mechanism was involved. The adsorption kinetics were established using the pseudo-second-order rate model. HOMO−LUMO energy binding differences were used to find the best locations for adsorption.

Phenol is nonetheless considered a major pollutant and, therefore should be treated to eliminate the phenol in wastewater to save the environment, people, and organisms from the negative impacts of phenol. This study, for the first time, investigates the synthesis and performance evaluation of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals (HDTMA-Br/CNCs) adsorbent for removing phenol from synthetic phenol-containing wastewater. The CNCs were prepared from as-received cellulose, by mixed acid hydrolysis consisting of sulfuric acid, glacial acetic acid, and deionized water in a mass ratio of 1:7:2. The prepared CNCs were functionalized by adding 20 g of the produced CNCs to the HDTMA-Br solution and stirred for 120 min. The synthesized and HDTMA-Br-functionalized CNCs were characterized using different analytical techniques, such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDX) to examine the surface morphology and the elemental composition of the modified and unmodified adsorbents. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) was used to examine the attachment of the functional group. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to analyze the crystalline structure of the adsorbent. To evaluate the performance of the synthesized adsorbent in batch mode, 1 g/L of phenol was used to prepare the synthetic phenol-containing wastewater. The analysis of the feed and permeate was done using pre-calibrated High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The multi-BET surface area of CNCs was 24.11 m2 g−1, meanwhile, fCNCs possessed a higher surface area of 201.4 m2 g−1 with a pore volume of 0.069 cm3 g−1. About ∼75 ± 1.4% phenol removal was obtained for the functionalized CNCs compared to the non-functionalized CNCs adsorbent having ∼43 ± 0.1% phenol removal at 35 °C reaction temperature. It could be observed that the spent adsorbent a shows percentage phenol removal of 70.0 ± 0.8% and 35.5 ± 1.4%, for fCNCs and CNCs at the 3rd cycle. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms best match the experimental data, while the pseudo-first-order kinetic model provided the greatest fit to the kinetic data. Thus far, the results suggest that modified CNCs may be an alternative adsorption material for phenol removal in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pickering multiphase systems stabilized by solid particles have recently attracted increasing attention due to their excellent stability. Among various solid stabilizers, natural and renewable cellulosic micro/nanoparticles that are derived from agricultural and forestry sources have become promising candidates for Pickering stabilization due to their unique morphological features and tunable surface properties. In this review, recent progress on forming and stabilizing Pickering multiphase systems using cellulosic colloidal particles is summarized, including the physicochemical factors affecting their assembly at the interfaces and the preparation methods suitable for producing Pickering emulsions. In addition, relevant application prospects of corresponding Pickering multiphase materials are outlined. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives of such renewable Pickering multiphase systems are presented. This review aims to encourage the utilization of cellulosic micro/nanoparticles as key components in the development of Pickering systems, leading to enhanced performance and unique functionalities.

Abstract Using household detergents to clean oil stains has always caused global concerns, as these detergents negatively impact the ecosystem and are toxic. Therefore, it is essential to effectively attenuate the adhesion force between oil stains and substrates to create an easy and detergent‐saving cleaning pathway. To address this challenge, we herein develop a strategy to reduce the strength of oil adhesion on common substrates by ∼20 times through a lamination layer, which contains phase‐transitioned lysozyme nanofilm (PTL) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The resultant CNC/PTL coating significantly enhances the capability of cleaning oil stains in an underwater detergent‐free manner; this strategy is applicable to edible oil packaging material and tableware, without impairing the usability and aesthetics of these materials. This coating exhibits excellent mechanical stability and regeneration characteristics through simple soaking, ensuring its robustness in real applications in an infinite life cycle. By eliminating 100% detergent in routine cleaning, the CNC/PTL coating demonstrated remarkable cost‐effectiveness, saving 57.7% of water and 83.3% of energy when washing tableware only with water. This work presents an ingenious design to create oil‐repellent packaging materials and tableware toward detergent‐free water‐cleaning pathways, thereby greatly reducing the negative environmental impact of surfactant emissions.

To address the slow crystallization problem of poly(propylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PPF), fully biobased PPF/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) composites were prepared via a solution and casting method in this work at low CNC contents. The influence of CNC on the crystallization of PPF was studied in detail under various conditions, including nonisothermal and isothermal melt crystallization as well as nonisothermal and isothermal cold crystallization. The results revealed that the crystallization of PPF was enhanced under various crystallization conditions by CNC due to the heterogeneous nucleating agent role. From the isothermal crystallization kinetics study, the presence of CNC did not alter the crystallization mechanism of PPF. In addition, the thermogravimetric analysis results showed that both PPF and PPF/CNC composites displayed an excellent thermal stability. On the basis of the wide angle X-ray diffraction study, CNC did not change the crystal structure of PPF.

MXenes have been highly attractive to researchers owing to their layered nanostructure, excellent electrical conductivity, and abundance of functional groups. Meanwhile, nanocellulose materials, known for their biodegradability, renewability, compatibility with living organisms, and cost‐effectiveness, have emerged as a popular choice for material selection researchers. Recent research has discovered that combining nanocellulose with MXenes can improve the mechanical properties of MXenes, resulting in composite materials with remarkable electrical and mechanical properties. This article provides an overview of the three main types of nanocellulose: cellulose nanofiber, cellulose nanocrystal, and bacterial cellulose. It also discusses various synthesis methods for MXenes, including MXene/nanocellulose‐based hydrogel and aerogel. Additionally, the article highlights the multiple uses of MXene/nanocellulose composites in different fields, including flexible sensing materials, electromagnetic shielding, energy storage structures, and wearable health monitoring. This review covers distinctive characteristics and unique MXene/nanocellulose composite behaviors, their recent advancements in MXene/nanocellulose synthesis, and applications. Moving forward, the potential for these materials to be used innovatively with anticipation of taking the MXene/nanocellulose‐based research further steps across the respective scientific community.

The kinetics of the CO 2 , D 2 and CH 4 transport through self-supporting cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) films containing low-molecular weight poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) additive as plasticizer agent was studied in single gas condition at 293 K and sub-atmospheric feed pressure. Neat CNC and PEG-CNC with 7 wt % PEG films act as impermeable barrier for CO 2 and CH 4 and exhibit D 2 permeability values not larger than 0.05 barrer with penetrant diffusivity in the 10−10 cm2/s range. PEG addition at larger contents improves the permeability and diffusivity of all penetrant gases and gives to the PEG-CNC membrane a CO 2 selective character. The CO 2 permeability and ideal CO 2 /D 2 selectivity of the PEG-CNC films are 0.42 ± 0.04 barrer and ∼3, respectively, at 14 wt % PEG content, 2.5 ± 0.2 barrer and ∼5 at 21 wt % PEG. The preferred CO 2 transport exhibits a solution-selective character being the D 2 diffusivity a factor ∼10 larger than the CO 2 diffusivity. PEG addition, on the contrary, does not change the D 2 selective character for the D 2 /CH 4 gas couple. PEG well mixed with the gas-impermeable CNCs increases the PEG-CNC free volume and preferentially improves the CO 2 solubility given the specific interactions between the quadrupolar CO 2 penetrant and the dipolar ether groups of the PEG additive. [Display omitted] • Tuning the gas transport rates and selectivity of CNC- based membranes. • Tuning by adding selected amounts of PEG plasticizer. • Neat CNCs membrane acts as CO 2 barrier for the D 2 /CO 2 gas couple. • CNCs membrane with 21 wt % PEG acts as CO 2 selective membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocellulose has attracted attention from the scientific community due to its biodegradability and unique physiochemical characteristics. However, the production of high-quality nanocellulose is still limited by the high cost of chemical usage, purification, and energy consumption. In this work, we proposed a catalytic aerobic process for preparing aldehyde-functionalized cellulose nanocrystals by oxidizing cellulose in a triisopropoxy vanadium (VO(OiPr)3)/O2 system and investigated the mechanism of selective oxidation of cellulose in this system. Well-dispersed cellulose nanocrystals with a diameter of approximately 100 nm and an aldehyde content of 0.425 mmol g−1 were obtained under the conditions of 120 °C, 4 MPa O2 pressure, and a 12 h reaction time. The catalyst employed in the oxidation process still retained high activity after being reused four times. This research presents an alternative strategy for the preparation of cellulose nanocrystals with limited chemical usage, which would contribute to the development of environmentally friendly and cost-effective processes for nanocellulose production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose was isolated from recycled pulp and paper sludge and used to synthesize cellulose nanocrystals. Response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design model were used to predict, improve, and optimize the cellulose isolation process. The optimal conditions were a reaction temperature of 87.5 °C, 180 min with 4% sodium hydroxide. SEM and TEM results revealed that the isolated cellulose had long rod-like structures of different dimensions than CNCs with short rod-like structures. The crystallinity index from XRD significantly increased from 41.33%, 63.7%, and 75.6% for Kimberly mill pulp sludge (KMRPPS), chemically purified cellulose and cellulose nanocrystals, respectively. The TGA/DTG analysis showed that the isolated cellulosic materials possessed higher thermal stability. FTIR analysis suggested that the chemical structures of cellulose and CNCs were modified by chemical treatment. The cellulose surface was highly hydrophilic compared to the CNCs based on the high water holding capacity of 65.31 ± 0.98% and 83.14 ± 1.22%, respectively. The synthesized cellulosic materials portrayed excellent properties for high-end industrial applications like biomedical engineering, advanced materials, nanotechnology, sustainable packaging, personal care products, environmental remediation, additive manufacturing, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent focus on cellulose nanomaterials, particularly biodegradable and biocompatible cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), has prompted their use as emulsion stabilizers. CNCs, when combined with salt, demonstrate enhanced emulsion stabilization. This study explored three emulsion stabilizers: Tween 80, soybean CNCs with salt (salted CNCs), and a combination of salted CNCs with Tween 80. Soybean CNCs, derived from soybean stover, were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Antifungal testing against Aspergillus flavus revealed increased bioactivity in all lemongrass essential oil (EO)-loaded emulsions compared to pure essential oil. In addition, all three emulsions exhibited a slight reduction in antifungal activity after 30 days of room temperature storage. The release experiment revealed that the EO-loaded nanoemulsion exhibited a slow-release profile. The nanoemulsion stabilized by salted CNCs and Tween 80 exhibited significantly lower release rates when compared to the nanoemulsion stabilized solely by Tween 80, attributed to the gel network formed by salted CNCs. The findings of this study highlight the efficacy of cellulose nanocrystals procured from soybean byproducts in conjunction with synthetic surfactants to create nanoencapsulated essential oils, resulting in improved antimicrobial efficacy and the achievement of sustained release properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to global warming and environmental concerns, developing a fully bio-based nanocomposite is an attractive issue. In this work, the cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) extracted from Luffa cylindrica, a renewable resource, were explored as a bio-based reinforcing filler in natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites. In addition, modified natural rubber was explored as a potential compatibilizer to assist the filler dispersion in the rubber nanocomposite. The effect of the CNC content (0–15 phr) on cure characteristics and the mechanical, dynamic, and thermal properties of NR/CNC nanocomposites was investigated. The results showed that the scorch time and cure time of the nanocomposites increased with increased CNC contents. The optimum tensile strength of NR nanocomposites having 5 phr of the CNC (NR-CNC5) was 20.60% higher than the corresponding unfilled NR vulcanizate, which was related to the increased crosslink density of the rubber nanocomposite. The incorporation of oxidized-degraded NR (ODNR) as a compatibilizer in the NR-CNC5 nanocomposite exhibited a considerably reduced cure time, which will lead to energy conservation during production. Moreover, the cure rate index of NR-CNC5-ODNR is much higher than using a petroleum-based silane coupling agent (Si69) as a compatibilizer in the NR-CNC5 nanocomposite. The good filler dispersion in the NR-CNC5 nanocomposite compatibilized by ODNR is comparable to the use of Si69, evidenced by scanning electron microscopy. There is, therefore, a good potential for the use of modified NR as a bio-based compatibilizer for rubber nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wound dressings play an essential role in wound care and healing, but the price is expensive for patients who have to treat for a long time such as patients from burns, scalds, etc. The objective of the research is to develop a wound dressing made with bacterial cellulose and local herb that has antibacterial properties, is cheap, and can be created by yourself. The bacterial cellulose (BC) produced from Acetobactor xylinum using coconut water waste to reduce costs. Its structure was changed to bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNC) by acid hydrolysis, dried in 2 methods: Oven dried at 50 °C (dy) or freeze dried (fd). Then, herbal dressings were produced as a composite BC with herbs in 2 forms: A solution, i.e. C. Odorata leaf extract solution and a colloid, i.e. C. hystrix essential oil nanocapsule. The results for the production of a wound dressing showed that fd-BCNC had good quality, good fiber dispersion, high porosity and no antibacterial activity. It is suitable as a primary or secondary wound dressing, that does not help in wound healing. When fd-BCNC was loaded with herbs in 2 forms, it was found to be stable at room temperature, water adsorption, water vapor permeability and inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Especially fd-BCNC of nanocapsule of C. hystrix peel essential oil has the best antibacterial effect. Therefore, you can apply this developed wound dressing to herbs used specifically for healing wounds. Moreover, we believe that this research will be a database that can be expanded to commercial production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a thermal error model for a lathe CNC machine using temperature on moving parts, which is usually a difficult measurement. Different working conditions are performed to obtain temperature and thermal displacement of the machine. A multi-linear regression model is applied for modelling relationship between temperatures and thermal errors. Data of two constant working conditions are implemented to find out the fitting function. Through analysis, it shows that thermal errors for X- and Z-axes can be estimated based on only four temperature points (T2, T3, T10 and T12 for the X-axis and T4, T6, T7 and T11 for the Z-axis). Results reveal that using movable part temperature data (T12), the average and maximum error in the predicted thermal displacement of the X-axis can be reduced about 1/3 and 2/5 compared to without using T12, while the movable temperature point on Z-Screw (T8) has a tiny effect on the average and maximum error of predicted thermal displacement of the Z-axis. Results herein can provide useful information to develop a thermal compensation for the CNC lathe machine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES) as a newly emerging type of liquid‐free ionic conductive elastomer is considered to be the most attractive candidate for the next generation of ionotronic devices. However, it remains a huge challenge to integrate high ionic conductivity, excellent mechanical properties, good self‐healing capacity, and robust adhesion into a single material that satisfies the stringent demand of the ionotronic devices in various scenarios. Herein, a liquid‐free ionic elastomer is constructed by incorporating tannic acid‐encapsulated cellulose nanocrystals (TA@CNC) as multifunctional hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) along with poly(acrylic acid) (HBDs) and choline chloride (hydrogen bond acceptors, HBAs) to form a dynamic cross‐linking network through multiple dynamic hydrogen bonds. The presence of the rigid crystalline regions and the sufficient dynamic interaction sites on the TA@CNC endow the resultant elastomers (ACTC) with superior mechanical properties (≈496 kPa, 2400%), robust adhesion (≈68.6 kPa), and good self‐healing property. Benefiting from the above integrated features, the wearable sensors by harnessing the ACTC as a resistance sensing module is constructed that provide unaltered sensing performance under off‐axial deformation (twisting and prick). Additionally, the capacitance pressure sensor with good stability for force distribution is developed, opening up a new avenue for the development of ionotronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial conductive polymer composites (CPCs) with positive temperature coefficient (PTC) behavior usually suffer from inherent poor reproducibility of pyroresistive property. Herein, a conductive carbon black (CB)/high density polyethylene (HDPE)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) composite with outstanding PTC reproducibility were prepared through introducing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) grafted with methyl methacrylate (CNC‐g‐PMMA). Following the minimum interfacial energy mechanism, the CNC‐g‐PMMA tends to locate in PVDF of binary polymer composites. A much finer morphology of conductive CB/HDPE phase is hence obtained owing to the increasement of PVDF/HDPE viscosity ratio by introducing CNC‐g‐PMMA. Undergoing multiple repeated temperature cycles, the room temperature resistance and PTC intensity of as‐prepared material keep almost unchanged, which demonstrates superior PTC reproducibility. The improving mechanism of PTC reproducibility has also been illustrated in detail. This research provides a facile and valid strategy to enhance the PTC reproducibility and will vastly expand the application of PTC composites in the field of intelligent temperature management. Highlights: Assembling binary polymer‐based PTC materials with cocontinuous structureNanocrystals enables conductive HDPE phase with finer morphology.The precise ranges of viscosity ratio ensure the co‐continuous morphology.Small conductive phase size enhances P reproducibility.Narrow spatial domain restricts the self‐aggregation of conductive fillers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pursuit of an environmentally sustainable manufacturing process requires the substitution of less damaging and recyclable solutions for harmful reagents. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of using cellulose microfibrils synthesized via different hydrolysis reactions as reinforcing agents in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) at varying concentrations. The investigation explores the morphology, thermal properties, and chemical behavior of the cellulose particles. The cellulose microfibrils (CMFs) produced using citric acid exhibited the highest yield and aspect ratio. Notably, particles from organic acids demonstrated greater thermal stability, with oxalic acid-derived particles displaying the maximum thermal degradation temperature. Subsequently, cast films of PVA reinforced with the cellulose microfibrils underwent comprehensive analyses, including Fourier transfer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermal degradation temperature (Td), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile strength tests. The thermal behavior of cast films experienced notable changes with the addition of cellulose particles, evidenced by increased melting and crystallinity temperatures, along with a rise in the degree of crystallinity. The incorporation of cellulose particles led to a substantial improvement in mechanical properties. Films containing CMF displayed higher Young's modulus, and the sample incorporating 5% CMF derived from citric acid exhibited the most significant increase in modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, and sodium alginate, ion-conducting hydrogels with high stretchability and adhesion were fabricated via a two-step process. Hydrogels were prepared with different contents of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and sodium alginate to improve the performance of ion-conducting hydrogels. The samples were tested and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, universal mechanical tester, LCR digital bridge and scanning electron microscope. The results show that the addition of sodium alginate can improve the ductility and mechanical properties of the hydrogel, and with the increase of the amount of sodium alginate, the ductility of the hydrogel shows an upward trend, when the amount of sodium alginate is 0 g, when the CNC is 0, the elongation at break of the hydrogel is 201.4%, and the maximum tensile strength is 0.045 MPa. When the amount of sodium alginate was 1 g and the CNC was 0, the elongation at break of the hydrogel was 769.2%, and the maximum tensile strength reached 0.075 MPa. The addition of CNC will also improve the mechanical properties of the hydrogel, but the addition of excessive CNC will reduce the mechanical properties of the hydrogel. When containing 2 g CNC and 1 g sodium alginate (SA), the elongation at break of the hydrogel was 983.2%, and the maximum tensile strength was 0.098 MPa. When the CNC content increased to 4 g, the elongation at break of the hydrogel decreased to 698.1%, and the maximum tensile strength decreased to 0.065 MPa. When the hydrogel is stretched, the relative resistance of the hydrogel increases with the stretching deformation. And the hydrogel can still guarantee the stability of the change in multiple stretching cycles, which indicates that the hydrogel has potential application value in flexible sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The birefringence response of aqueous cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions in a two-dimensional laminar flow is measured and studied. The suspensions have CNC concentrations of 1.0 wt% (weight percentage) and 1.2 wt%. Cellulose nanocrystals are optically anisotropic rod-like particles that align when subjected to local velocity gradients, whereas at rest, they remain randomly orientated by Brownian motion. The alignment causes birefringence, a phenomenon also known as flow-induced birefringence. We study the flow through an additively manufactured flow channel and measure the amount of birefringence as well as the position of the refractive index axes by using polarizers and a polarization camera. With the help of reference data published in a previous study (Lane, Rode, et al., 2022a), strain rates are derived from the birefringence measurements and compared with numerical simulations. Two flow situations are studied, a plane Poiseuille flow and the flow around a cosine-shaped constriction. The experimentally derived shear rates for the plane Poiseuille flow are consistent with theoretical and computational results. The derived strain rates for the flow around the cosine-shaped constriction show an unexpected asymmetric profile, with the strain rates in the contraction zone being larger than in the expansion zone. The averaged orientation of the CNCs in the flow is linked to the position of the refractive index axes. In the contraction zone, the CNCs tend to align parallel to the flow, whereas in the expansion zone, the CNCs tend to align perpendicular to the flow. The results of this study are discussed in the context of previous, similar studies. The asymmetric strain rate profile around the cosine-shaped constriction is thought to originate from history effects, and the alignment of the CNCs is influenced by extensional rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our work is the preparation of cellulose nanofibrils or nanocrystals made from cellulose that is recovered from sugarcane bagasse agricultural waste (SC) as a dispersant instead of commercial cellulose for oil spill cleanup. In the current study, carboxymethyl cellulose was prepared by cellulose mercerization, which was then esterified by oxalic acid to create nanocellulose. Incorporation of oxalate into carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was verified by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy by the appearance of a new peak at 8.15 ppm for CMC–oxalate. The degree of substitution (DS) of oxalate was 0.17. The synthesized nanocellulose formed particles were roughly the same size and shape as both cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs): measuring 321–480 nm in length and 4–5 nm in width. Emulsions of paraffins made from CMC–oxalate are stable up to 10 months without undergoing precipitation. CMC–oxalate had great thermal stability and worked well as a paraffin oil dispersant. CMC–oxalate provided a barrier around the oil droplet surface, which prevented droplets from coalescing. This hypothesis is supported by the contact angle measurement for the O/W emulsion formed by CMC–oxalate being 0°, which is lower than the value for emulsions formed by underivatized CMC, 37.20°. From transmission electron microscopy observations, O/W emulsions of paraffin oil were spherical in shape, and separated from each other by a distance of 30–100 nm. This study shows that CMC–oxalate can be prepared by a low‐cost method, yielding nanocellulose with characteristics that resemble CNFs and CNCs, thereby opening up new potential applications for cellulose nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose hydrogel derived from cellulose fibers extracted from printed paper waste is prepared. The hydrogel derived from 3 wt% of the cellulose concentration exhibits a maximum water absorption capacity of 465.5%. The effects of the cellulose hydrogel on the soil moisture are evaluated using four types of soils namely river sand, clayey soil, loamy soil, and gley soil (the wetland soil). The potential application of cellulose‐based hydrogel as an eco‐friendly seed germination media of the paddy seeds under the soil‐less condition is evaluated. This study shows that paddy seeds exhibit a higher seed germination rate of 53% when cellulose hydrogel is used as a seed germination media as compared to seed germination rate ranging from 14% to 35% when various types of soil are used as the germination media. The prepared cellulose hydrogel could be applied as an eco‐friendly and cost‐effective seed germination media to enhance the paddy seeds' germination rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widely used high-density polyethylene (HDPE) polymer has inadequate mechanical and thermal properties for structural applications. To overcome this challenge, nano zinc oxide (ZnO) and nano boron oxide (B2O3) doped lignin-containing cellulose nanocrystals (L-CNC) were blended in the polymer matrix. The working hypothesis is that lignin will prevent CNC aggregation, and metal oxides will reduce the flammability of polymers by modifying their degradation pathways. This research prepared and incorporated safe, effective, and eco-friendly hybrid systems of nano ZnO/L-CNC and nano B2O3/L-CNC into the HDPE matrix to improve their physio-mechanical and fire-retardant properties. The composites were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, thermo-gravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, horizontal burning test, and microcalorimetry test. The results demonstrated a substantial increase in mechanical properties and a reduction in flammability. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed some agglomeration and irregular distribution of the inorganic oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent declines in flux due to membrane fouling result in decreased treated water production, higher energy consumption, and a frequent need for chemical cleaning. Carbon nanotubes-based membranes have shown remarkable separation capabilities in water treatment processes while being relatively resistant to biofouling. Cellulose-based membranes, on the other hand, have demonstrated outstanding biocompatibility and versatile surface chemistry. In the current study, a hybrid polyethersulfone (PES) membrane was synthesized by integrating with single cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), single carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), and a mixture of CNC and MWCNT utilizing the phase inversion method. This combination of nanomaterials was aimed at eliciting synergistic effects to enhance the overall membrane performance. The evaluation of the hybrid membranes encompassed an analysis of membrane structure, morphology, porosity, hydrophilicity, water flux, humic acid (HA) rejection, and the flux recovery ratio (FRR). The experimental outcomes unveiled notable changes in the morphology of the polymeric membrane when CNC and MWCNT were introduced into the PES membrane structure. All hybrid membranes displayed heightened hydrophilicity compared to the original pristine PES membrane. The PES/CNC0.3/CNT0.03 membrane demonstrated exceptional performance, with a remarkable HA rejection rate and FRR of 93.05% and 92.09%, respectively. This outstanding performance can be attributed to the synergistic combination of two separation mechanisms: electrostatic repulsion and size exclusion. The inclusion of MWCNTs into the hybrid membranes significantly reduced humic acid-induced membrane fouling due to improve surface hydrophilicity and decreased membrane roughness. [Display omitted] • PES membrane combining CNC and carboxylated MWCNT was prepared to remove humic acid. • The contact angle of the hybrid membrane was reduced to as low as 60°. • The humid acid rejection and flux recovery ratio of the hybrid membrane was improved. • PES/CNC0.3/CNT0.03 membrane showed a 93.05% HA rejection rate and an FRR of 92.09%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effects of cellulose and lignin on stimulating vegetation restoration and improving soil chemical properties in saline-alkali soil, a large area test was carried out, and 2 treatments were set up: T (cellulose and lignin+ Planted seeds) and CK (Planted seeds). In this study, the species, quantity, plant height, above-ground biomass, biodiversity of vegetation in the treated plots, the determination of soil chemical nutrient content, and the effect of cellulose and lignin on vegetation restoration in saline-alkali land were investigated. The results showed that: 1) Cellulose and lignin contributed to vegetation growth. Compared with CK treatment, plant height and aboveground biomass of T increased by 158.73% and 240.13%, respectively; 2) Cellulose and lignin improved soil structure, and soil porosity, and decreased soil compaction (21.95%); 3) Compared with CK treatment, T treatment decreased soil pH by 0.5 units, total salt content decreased by 30.95%, exchangeable Na+ decreased by 63.00%, and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) decreased by 61.51%. Furthermore, cellulose and lignin effectively improved the physical and chemical properties of saline-alkali soil, promoted the recovery of ecological environment in saline-alkali soil, and improved regional biodiversity, which will provide new methods for soil remediation and improvement in saline-alkali areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]