Article
Polymer Science
Jin Lei, Zhu-Xin Gui, Wan -Ting Xiong, Gang Wu, Si -Chong Chen, Yu-Zhong Wang
Summary: The extensive use and improper disposal of non-degradable petrochemical-based polymers have caused energy depletion, resource shortages, and environmental concerns. To address this issue, a biodegradable polymer with excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability was developed by introducing hydrophobic building blocks. The polymer also demonstrated easy monomer recyclability and durability in highly moist air conditions. The origins and mechanism of the performance improvement were investigated, and a proof of concept for chemical closed-loop recycling was demonstrated.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Ana Oberlintner, Blaz Likozar, Uros Novak
Summary: Nanoscale-interfaced cellulose nanomaterials are extracted from polysaccharides and have biocompatible and biodegradable properties. They can be surface-modified and have been studied in terms of catalyst demand, measurement conditions and additional molecule reactions.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Francesca Albini, Barbara Biondi, Luana Lastella, Cristina Peggion
Summary: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the demand for textile materials with specific properties, especially in preventing pathogens. This study explores the possibility of modifying cotton fabrics with peptides using thiazolidine and oxime chemoselective ligations. Through enzymatic oxidation of cellulose and the reuse of the oxidation solution multiple times, peptides were successfully conjugated to cotton using either thiazolidine or oxime bonds. A systematic study was conducted to optimize the reaction conditions in terms of time, pH, and quantities, and the efficiency and stability of the two chemoselective ligation bonds were compared.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Rakibul Hossain, Mehdi Tajvidi, Douglas Bousfield, Douglas J. Gardner
Summary: Recyclable cellulose nanofibril and lignin-containing cellulose nanofibril coated wood flour composites were fabricated for food serving applications using a vacuum-filtration process. The composites exhibited excellent mechanical and barrier properties, making them suitable eco-friendly alternatives for food container systems.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guan-Wen Yang, Yuhui Wang, Huan Qi, Yao-Yao Zhang, Xiao-Feng Zhu, Chenjie Lu, Li Yang, Guang-Peng Wu
Summary: In this study, we successfully synthesized poly(cyclopentene carbonate) (PCPC) using metal-free modular dinuclear organoboron catalysts, achieving high catalytic efficiency and depolymerization yield. The investigation on the preparation and depolymerization of PCPC, as well as the understanding of related mechanisms, is of great significance for the development of advanced catalysts and recyclable plastics.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qianqian Chen, Meng Zhou, Jun Yuan, Jiaqian Cai, Hongxia Xie, Mengxiang Zhu, Libing Cai, Peng Wei, Chunyu Chang
Summary: In this study, a vacuum-assisted filtration method was used to prepare high-strength and recyclable hydroplastic cellulose nanofiber films. Hydrophobic cellulose nanofibers were obtained by esterification of natural cellulose and dissolved in a recyclable deep eutectic solvent to form films. The films exhibited high tensile strength and could be programmed into various shapes. They could also be reversibly engineered by kirigami, origami, and embossing. The waste films could be recycled.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dawei Zhao, Ying Zhu, Wanke Cheng, Wenshuai Chen, Yiqiang Wu, Haipeng Yu
Summary: Cellulose, as a natural biopolymer, has advantages such as low cost, renewability, easy processability, and appealing mechanical performance, dielectricity, piezoelectricity. These make it a key material for flexible electronic devices and have significant impact on portable intelligent electronics.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jacob Monroe, Sally Jiao, R. Justin Davis, Dennis Robinson Brown, Lynn E. Katz, M. Scott Shell
Summary: The performance of membranes in water purification, especially in terms of fouling resistance, is influenced by the interactions between solvated species and membrane surfaces. Efforts to create fouling-resistant membranes often focus on hydrophilization of surfaces. However, molecular simulations show that solutes are attracted to both hydrophobic and hydrophilic surfaces, contradicting macroscopic measures which suggest solute affinity is higher on hydrophobic surfaces. This suggests that traditional macroscopic hydrophobicity metrics may not accurately predict solute-surface affinity, and that molecular-scale surface chemical patterning plays a significant role in influencing affinity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Huimin Zhang, Jilong Wang, Guangbiao Xu, Yanfang Xu, Fumei Wang, Hua Shen
Summary: Cellulose aerogels with kapok/microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) exhibit ultralow density, ultrahigh porosity, and hydrophobicity, enabling advanced oil sorption and high absorption ability. These aerogels are cost-effective, sustainable, and possess excellent reusability, making them a suitable alternative for cleaning oil spills.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Qianqian Chen, Daofa Ying, Yiwen Chen, Hongxia Xie, Huaran Zhang, Chunyu Chang
Summary: In this study, a coating-annealing approach was utilized to fabricate highly transparent, hydrophobic, and durable anisotropic cellulose films. Low surface energy chemicals poly(methyl methacrylate)-b-poly(trifluoroethyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-PTFEMA) were coated onto regenerated cellulose films through physical and chemical interactions. The resulting films exhibited nano-protrusions, low surface roughness, high optical transparency, good hydrophobicity, and excellent stability and durability under various conditions. This work provides a promising large-scale production strategy for transparent and hydrophobic cellulose-based films for electronic device protection and other emerging flexible electronics.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Eduarda C. de Souza, Roger H. Bello, Luiz A. F. Coelho
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of adding hydrophilic and hydrophobic silica nanoparticles on the electrical properties, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of polyhexahydro-s-triazine (PHT), a chemically recyclable thermoset material. The results showed that the addition of hydrophobic nanoparticles improved the electrical conductivity, while having minimal effect on the thermal and mechanical properties. Successful chemical recycling of the nanocomposites was achieved through acid treatment.
POLYMER INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Tao Liu, Chenchen Cai, Ruijia Ma, Yongfei Deng, Lingyun Tu, Yifeng Fan, Dengjun Lu
Summary: This study introduced a method of hydrophobic modification of CNFs using MTMS to create an air filter with super-hydrophobicity and high-efficiency filtration of PM. The modified filter showed excellent anti-humidity performance and improved filtration effects, especially in high-humidity air conditions.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Lian Han, Haoyu Zhang, Hou-Yong Yu, Zhaofeng Ouyang, Juming Yao, Izabella Krucinska, Daesung Kim, Kam Chiu Tam
Summary: By utilizing the percolated conductive network of cellulose nanocrystals-polyaniline (CNC-PANI) composites in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix, a versatile nature skin-inspired composite film as a flexible strain biosensor was developed. The composite electronic skin exhibited robust mechanical strength, high sensitivity, and easy water-induced self-healing abilities. The 5% CNC-PANI composite film showed the best overall sensing property, indicating the potential of conductive nanofiller-based composite strain biosensors as an alternative to commercial synthetic sensors.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yingchao Wang, Qiang Wang, Shanshan Liu, Xingxiang Ji, Guihua Yang, Jiachuan Chen
Summary: An environmental-friendly hydrophobic NFC film was fabricated using lipase-induced esterification and coating technology, which showed excellent sensitivity and stability for real-time monitoring of human motion as a strain sensor.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lingbo Yao, Gege Wang, Feifan Zhang, Xiaowei Chi, Yu Liu
Summary: Aqueous batteries based on zinc metal anodes have high potential for scalable energy storage due to their high specific energy, safety, and low cost. However, their limited cycling stability, particularly under high Zn utilization, has been a major challenge. To tackle this issue, a new inorganic/organic hybrid separator called P/FS-Z was designed, which exhibited balanced mass transfer capability and controllable interface reaction. The P/FS-Z separator achieved an ultrahigh accumulative deposition capacity of up to 12,000 mA h cm(-2) and a record long-term cycling life of 700 h at 80% Zn DOD. This research provides important guidance for the development and practical application of separators for aqueous metal batteries.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Li Zha, Shennan Wang, Lars A. Berglund, Qi Zhou
Summary: In this study, mixed-linkage (1,3;1,4)-beta-D-glucan (MLG) from barley was used as a rehydration medium to improve the redispersion and recycling of dried cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). MLG exhibited an intrinsic affinity to both cellulose and water molecules, similar to plant cell wall. Coating CNFs with MLG facilitated the rehydration of individualized CNFs network. The addition of 10 wt% barley MLG did not affect the mechanical properties of CNF/MLG composites, and the dried CNF/MLG composite film could be successfully redispersed in water and recycled with well-maintained mechanical properties, unlike lichenan, cationic starch, and xyloglucan.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gabriella G. Mastantuoni, Van Chinh Tran, Isak Engquist, Lars A. Berglund, Qi Zhou
Summary: To meet the growing demand for sustainable electronic devices, developing lightweight and mechanically strong wood structures for conducting composites is highly desirable. Researchers have successfully fabricated highly conductive wood/polypyrrole composites by modifying native lignin in wood cell walls and polymerizing pyrrole. By treating wood veneers with sodium sulfite under neutral conditions, researchers obtained sulfonated wood veneers with increased porosity and well-preserved cell wall structures containing native lignin and lignosulfonates. The composite achieved high conductivity and specific pseudocapacitance, making it suitable for sustainable energy applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jonas Garemark, E. Perea-Buceta, Martin Felhofer, Bin Chen, Maria F. Cortes Ruiz, Ioanna Sapouna, Notburga Gierlinger, Ilkka Antero Kilpelainen, Lars A. . Berglund, Yuanyuan Li
Summary: In this work, strong shape-memory bio-aerogels with high specific surface areas and low thermal conductivity were prepared through a one-step treatment of native wood. The methodology developed for nanoscale reassembly of wood is a significant advancement for the design of biobased shape-memory aerogels.
Article
Polymer Science
Linnea Cederholm, Peter Olsen, Minna Hakkarainen, Karin Odelius
Summary: This study demonstrates the design of recyclable A-B-A block copolymers with different material properties using a thermodynamic toolkit based on cyclic monomer structure and solvent properties.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Marcus Vinicius Tavares da Costa, Lengwan Li, Lars A. Berglund
Summary: In this study, thin clay coatings were deposited on polymeric materials using water dispersion technique to improve the gas barrier properties and fire retardancy. The mechanical properties of the coatings were difficult to assess due to their thinness (1 μm). In-situ tests using a micro tensile stage in a scanning electron microscope revealed a thickness-dependent microcracking mechanism, and Weibull parameters for coating fracture were extracted. A micromechanical finite element formulation provided values for interfacial shear strength (5 MPa) and interfacial fracture toughness (1 J/m2). The method can be extended to study other combinations of brittle coating-ductile substrates.
MATERIALS & DESIGN
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Van Chinh Tran, Gabriella G. Mastantuoni, Marzieh Zabihipour, Lengwan Li, Lars Berglund, Magnus Berggren, Qi Zhou, Isak Engquist
Summary: The discovery of mass transport in plants has led to the development of low-cost and sustainable wood-based electronics. In this study, a wood electrochemical transistor (WECT) was created using conductive wood (CW) for all three electrodes, prepared through a two-step process. The modified wood exhibited high electrical conductivity due to the incorporation of PEDOT:PSS microstructures. The WECT showed promising performance for electrical current modulation and demonstrated potential for bio-based electronic devices.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lengwan Li, Pan Chen, Lilian Medina, Lin Yang, Yoshiharu Nishiyama, Lars A. Berglund
Summary: Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and 2D silicate nanoplatelet reinforcement readily form multifunctional composites by vacuum-assisted self-assembly from hydrocolloidal mixtures. Synchrotron X-ray scattering techniques were used to monitor the structural development of CNF and montmorillonite (MTM) during drying from water and ethanol. Changes in the nanoscale structure and orientation of CNF and MTM were investigated, confirming the residual drying strains and the formation of tactoid platelet stacks. The ordering processes take place during drying, while the constituent nanoparticles in the swollen gel already have a fixed location after filtration.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xuan Yang, Lengwan Li, Yoshiharu Nishiyama, Michael S. Reid, Lars A. Berglund
Summary: A facile preparation method using low energy kitchen blenders is reported, in which the dispersion, exfoliation, and mixing of colloidal cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and clay nanoparticles are achieved in one step. The energy demand is reduced by about 97% compared to the conventional method, and the resulting composites exhibit higher strength and work to fracture. The results indicate favorable effects of hemicellulose-rich, negatively charged pulp fibers and corresponding CNFs on CNF disintegration and colloidal stability, facilitating substantial CNF/clay interfacial interaction and providing a more sustainable and industrially relevant processing concept for strong CNF/clay nanocomposites.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Arun Srikanth Sridhar, Lars A. Berglund, Jakob Wohlert
Summary: The contact angles of water and various organic liquids on native and acetylated cellulose were calculated using molecular dynamics simulations. The wetting behavior was found to be influenced by the liquid surface tension. Acetylation decreased the work of adhesion to most liquids, including nonpolar ones, while others were unaffected. Water showed the highest affinity to both native and acetylated cellulose. These findings have implications for liquid infiltration of nanocellulose networks and the interaction between cellulose and different liquids.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lukas Marcos Celada, Judith Martin, Sergey V. Dvinskikh, Peter Olsen
Summary: Biopolymers, especially cellulose, play a vital role in transitioning to a circular economy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. However, modifying cellulose hydroxyls is a challenge due to the similarity of their chemical features with water. To address this, we developed bio-based ionic liquids that can activate cellulose without disturbing its crystalline ordering. One specific ionic liquid showed high activation in heterogeneous conditions, resulting in over 30% conversion of cellulose hydroxyls. This work opens new perspectives for cellulose derivatization while maintaining sustainability.
Article
Materials Science, Composites
Bin Chen, Celine Montanari, Sergei Popov, Lars A. Berglund
Summary: A parametric model is proposed for simulating wood microstructures, which can generate complex 3D structures with realism and variability. The model can be used to study the mechanical, optical, and hydrodynamic properties of composite materials, as well as for training deep learning networks.
COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Jin Huang, Peter Diner, Vincent Nieboer, Peter Olsen, Karin Odelius
Summary: A combined experimental and theoretical investigation reveals mechanistic differences in the ring-opening polymerization behavior of macrocyclic carbonates. Factors such as ring size, thermodynamic stability of conformer, and stability of transition state affect the polymerization rate.
Article
Polymer Science
Linnea Cederholm, Peter Olsen, Minna Hakkarainen, Karin Odelius
Summary: The influence of monomer structure on the solvent effect and the selective ring-closing depolymerization of polymer blends using catalyst selectivity have been investigated in this study. The results show that the chemical structure of the monomer affects the ability of the solvent to suppress the ceiling temperature. This study demonstrates the potential for chemical recycling and selective depolymerization in polymer blends.
Article
Polymer Science
Vincent Nieboer, Noe Fanjul-Mosteirin, Peter Olsen, Karin Odelius
Summary: Zwitterionic Lewis pair (LP) catalysis has been found to be highly effective in the polymerization of lactone monomers to form cyclic polymers. This study investigated the use of ZnEt2-1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) LP as a catalyst for the initiation and polymerization reactions of various lactones. The polymerization mechanism was found to proceed through deprotonation of the alpha-protons on the lactone, leading to anionic propagation and linear polymers. The initiation period of the polymerization was affected by factors such as ethyl decomposition on ZnEt2, reaction temperature, Lewis base equivalents, and the lactones used.
Article
Polymer Science
Vincent Nieboer, Noe Fanjul-Mosteirin, Peter Olsen, Karin Odelius
Summary: In this study, a new selective catalyst for controlled ring-opening polymerization was explored. The catalyst showed high activity, good control, and stability in the polymerization of various lactones and cyclic carbonates. However, it could not polymerize lactones with substituents on the terminal carbon. This research is of great significance for the development of greener materials.
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2023)