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Li J, Lu C, Ye C, Xiong R. Structural, Optical, and Mechanical Insights into Cellulose Nanocrystal Chiral Nematic Film Engineering by Two Assembly Techniques. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:3507-3518. [PMID: 38758685 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c00169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Iridescent cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films with chiral nematic nanostructures exhibit great potential in optical devices, sensors, painting, and anticounterfeiting applications. CNCs can assemble into a chiral nematic liquid crystal structure by evaporation-assisted self-assembly (EISA) and vacuum-assisted self-assembly (VASA) techniques. However, there is a lack of comprehensive examinations of their structure-property correlations, which are essential for fabricating materials with unique properties. In this work, we gained insights into the optical, mechanical, and structural differences of CNC films engineered using the two techniques. In contrast to the random self-assembly at the liquid-air interface in EISA, the continuous external pressure in the VASA process forces CNCs to assemble at the filter-liquid interface. This results in fewer defects in the interfaces between tactoids and highly ordered cholesteric phases. Owing to the distinct CNC assembly behaviors, the films prepared by these two methods show great differences in the nanostructure, microstructure, and macroscopic morphology. Consequently, the highly ordered cholesteric structure gives VASA-CNC films a more uniform structural color and enhanced mechanical performance. These fundamental understandings of the relationship of structure-property nanoengineering through various assembly techniques are essential for designing and constructing high-performance chiral iridescent CNC materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Canhui Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
| | - Chunhong Ye
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, P. R. China
| | - Rui Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Polymer Research Institute of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, P. R. China
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Babaei-Ghazvini A, Vafakish B, Patel R, Falua KJ, Dunlop MJ, Acharya B. Cellulose nanocrystals in the development of biodegradable materials: A review on CNC resources, modification, and their hybridization. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 258:128834. [PMID: 38128804 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The escalating demand for sustainable materials has propelled cellulose into the spotlight as a promising alternative to petroleum-based products. As the most abundant organic polymer on Earth, cellulose is ubiquitous, found in plants, bacteria, and even a unique marine animal-the tunicate. Cellulose polymers naturally give rise to microscale semi-crystalline fibers and nanoscale crystalline regions known as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Exhibiting rod-like structures with widths spanning 3 to 50 nm and lengths ranging from 50 nm to several microns, CNC characteristics vary based on the cellulose source. The degree of crystallinity, crucial for CNC properties, fluctuates between 49 and 95 % depending on the source and synthesis method. CNCs, with their exceptional properties such as high aspect ratio, relatively low density (≈1.6 g cm-3), high axial elastic modulus (≈150 GPa), significant tensile strength, and birefringence, emerge as ideal candidates for biodegradable fillers in nanocomposites and functional materials. The percolation threshold, a mathematical concept defining long-range connectivity between filler and polymer, governs the effectiveness of reinforcement in nanocomposites. This threshold is intricately influenced by the aspect ratio and molecular interaction strength, impacting CNC performance in polymeric and pure nanocomposite materials. This comprehensive review explores diverse aspects of CNCs, encompassing their derivation from various sources, methods of modification (both physical and chemical), and hybridization with heterogeneous fillers. Special attention is devoted to the hybridization of CNCs derived from tunicates (TCNC) with those from wood (WCNC), leveraging the distinct advantages of each. The overarching objective is to demonstrate how this hybridization strategy mitigates the limitations of WCNC in composite materials, offering improved interaction and enhanced percolation. This, in turn, is anticipated to elevate the reinforcing effects and pave the way for the development of nanocomposites with tunable viscoelastic, physicochemical, and mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amin Babaei-Ghazvini
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada.
| | - Bahareh Vafakish
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada.
| | - Ravi Patel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada.
| | - Kehinde James Falua
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada.
| | - Matthew J Dunlop
- Tunistrong Technologies Incorporated, 7207 Route 11, Wellington, Charlottetown, PE C0B 20E, Canada.
| | - Bishnu Acharya
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, 57 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A9, Canada.
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Wang Q, Niu W, Feng S, Liu J, Liu H, Zhu Q. Accelerating Cellulose Nanocrystal Assembly into Chiral Nanostructures. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37464327 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c03797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions self-assembled into chiral nematic liquid crystals. This property has enabled the development of versatile optical materials with fascinating properties. Nevertheless, the scale-up production and commercial success of chiral nematic CNC superstructures face significant challenges. Fabrication of chiral nematic CNC nanostructures suffers from a ubiquitous pernicious trade-off between uniform chiral nematic structure and rapid self-assembly. Specifically, the chiral nematic assembly of CNCs is a time-consuming, spontaneous process that involves the organization of particles into ordered nanostructures as the solvent evaporates. This review is driven by the interest in accelerating chiral nematic CNC assembly and promoting a long-range oriented chiral nematic CNC superstructure. To start this review, the chirality origins of CNC and CNC aggregates are analyzed. This is followed by a summary of the recent advances in stimuli-accelerated chiral nematic CNC self-assembly procedures, including evaporation-induced self-assembly, continuous coating, vacuum-assisted self-assembly, and shear-induced CNC assembly under confinement. In particular, stimuli-induced unwinding, alignment, and relaxation of chiral nematic structures were highlighted, offering a significant link between the accelerated assembly approaches and uniform chiral nematic nanostructures. Ultimately, future opportunities and challenges for rapid chiral nematic CNC assembly are discussed for more innovative and exciting applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Wang
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Wen Niu
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Shixuan Feng
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Huan Liu
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Qianqian Zhu
- Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- Institute of Quantum and Sustainable Technology (IQST), School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
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Hasanzadeh A, Shojaei S, Gholipour B, Vahedi P, Rostamnia S. Biosynthesis of MCC/IL/Ag-AgCl NPs by Cellulose-Based Nanocomposite for Medical Antibiofilm Applications. Ind Eng Chem Res 2023. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.2c03277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Amir Hasanzadeh
- Department of Microbiology, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh 55158-78151, Iran
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences , Urmia 57147-83734, Iran
| | - Salman Shojaei
- Organic and Nano Group (ONG), Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran 16846-13114, Iran
| | - Behnam Gholipour
- Organic and Nano Group (ONG), Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran 16846-13114, Iran
| | - Parviz Vahedi
- Department of Microbiology, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh 55158-78151, Iran
| | - Sadegh Rostamnia
- Organic and Nano Group (ONG), Department of Chemistry, Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), Tehran 16846-13114, Iran
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Vaňkátová P, Kubíčková A, Kalíková K. Enantioseparation of liquid crystals and their utilization as enantiodiscrimination materials. J Chromatogr A 2022; 1673:463074. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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