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Aerogel nanoarchitectonics based on cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibers from eucalyptus pulp: preparation and comparative study

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Abstract

Nanocellulose-based materials have attracted significant attention because of their attractive advantages. Particularly, aerogel, a porous nanocellulose material, have been used in diverse applications owing to their unique properties. In this study, short rod-like cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and long filament-like cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were isolated from a eucalyptus pulp source using acidolysis and oxidation/mechanical methods, respectively. Subsequently, two different aerogels were prepared from the CNCs and CNFs using the sol–gel method and their properties were compared. The morphology, chemical structure, chemical composition, shrinkage rate, internal structure, thermal degradation, biophysical properties, and mechanical properties of the as-prepared aerogels were compared. Furthermore, the shrinkage of the CNC and CNF aerogels was effectively controlled using a supercritical CO2 drying process. Additionally, three decomposition regions were observed in the thermogravimetric analysis curves of the aerogels; however, the CNF aerogels exhibited enhanced thermal stability than the CNC aerogels. Further, the CNC and CNF aerogels exhibited a mesoporous structure, and the compressive strength of the CNC and CNF aerogels under 85% strain was 269.5 and 299.5 kPa, respectively. This study provides fundamental knowledge on the fabrication of CNCs, CNFs, and corresponding aerogels from lignocellulosic biomass, and their characteristics.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China (BK20201072), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32071687, 22108091), the National First-class Disciplines (PNFD), the Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD), the Postgraduate Research & Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX20_0868), and the Self-made Experimental Teaching Instrument Project of Nanjing Forestry University of 2021 (nlzzyq202113). In addition, this research was supported by the Yonsei University Research Fund of 2021 (2021-22-0034).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China

    Wenkai Zhu, Yang Zhang & Chong Jia

  2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomass-Based Energy and Enzyme Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China

    Xiaoyu Wang

  3. College of Furnishings and Industrial Design, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China

    Yan Wu

  4. Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea

    Wenkai Zhu, Minsu Han & Jeonghun Kim

  5. Department of Plant and Environmental New Resources, Graduate School of Biotechnology, Institute of Life Science and Resources, Kyung Hee University, 1732 Deogyeong-daero, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 17104, Republic of Korea

    Jungmok You

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  1. Wenkai Zhu
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  3. Xiaoyu Wang
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Correspondence to Jungmok You, Chong Jia or Jeonghun Kim.

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Zhu, W., Zhang, Y., Wang, X. et al. Aerogel nanoarchitectonics based on cellulose nanocrystals and nanofibers from eucalyptus pulp: preparation and comparative study. Cellulose 29, 817–833 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-021-04370-z

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