Optical and mechanical properties of nanofibrillated cellulose: Toward a robust platform for next-generation green technologies

Nanofibrillated cellulose is a key material for paving the path toward oil-free renewable materials. In this work, we give new insights on fundamental optical, vibrational and mechanical aspects of this form of cellulose, demonstrating its optical bandgap and improved surface stability in cyclically...

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Published in:Carbohydrate polymers 2015-08, Vol.126, p.40-46
Main Authors: Simão, Claudia D., Reparaz, Juan S., Wagner, Markus R., Graczykowski, Bartlomiej, Kreuzer, Martin, Ruiz-Blanco, Yasser B., García, Yamila, Malho, Jani-Markus, Goñi, Alejandro R., Ahopelto, Jouni, Sotomayor Torres, Clivia M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Betula - chemistry
Cellulose - chemistry
Cellulose - ultrastructure
Elastic Modulus
Green Chemistry Technology - methods
High pressure Raman
Luminescence
Materials Testing
Moisture stability
Nanofibers - chemistry
Nanofibers - ultrastructure
Nanofibrillated cellulose
Optical bandgap
Pressure
Quantitative nanomechanical force microscopy
Surface Properties
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Summary:Nanofibrillated cellulose is a key material for paving the path toward oil-free renewable materials. In this work, we give new insights on fundamental optical, vibrational and mechanical aspects of this form of cellulose, demonstrating its optical bandgap and improved surface stability in cyclically interchanging environmental conditions. Nanofibrillated cellulose, a polymer that can be obtained from one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature, is being increasingly explored due to its outstanding properties for packaging and device applications. Still, open challenges in engineering its intrinsic properties remain to address. To elucidate the optical and mechanical stability of nanofibrillated cellulose as a standalone platform, herein we report on three main findings: (i) for the first time an experimental determination of the optical bandgap of nanofibrillated cellulose, important for future modeling purposes, based on the onset of the optical bandgap of the nanofibrillated cellulose film at Eg≈275nm (4.5eV), obtained using absorption and cathodoluminescence measurements. In addition, comparing this result with ab-initio calculations of the electronic structure the exciton binding energy is estimated to be Eex≈800meV; (ii) hydrostatic pressure experiments revealed that nanofibrillated cellulose is structurally stable at least up to 1.2GPa; and (iii) surface elastic properties with repeatability better than 5% were observed under moisture cycles with changes of the Young modulus as large as 65%. The results obtained show the precise determination of significant properties as elastic properties and interactions that are compared with similar works and, moreover, demonstrate that nanofibrillated cellulose properties can be reversibly controlled, supporting the extended potential of nanofibrillated cellulose as a robust platform for green-technology applications.
ISSN:0144-8617
1879-1344
DOI:10.1016/j.carbpol.2015.03.032