Plant Cellulose Nanofiber-Derived Structural Material with High-Density Reversible Interaction Networks for Plastic Substitute

• Published in: Nano letters 2021-11, Vol.21 (21), p.8999-9004
• Main Authors: Guan, Qing-Fang, Yang, Huai-Bin, Han, Zi-Meng, Ling, Zhang-Chi, Yang, Kun-Peng, Yin, Chong-Han, Yu, Shu-Hong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cellulose - chemistry; Ecosystem; Nanofibers - chemistry; Plastics; Polymers
• ISSN: 1530-6984; 1530-6992
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c02315

Ubiquitous petrochemical-based plastics pose a potential threat to ecosystems. In response, bioderived and degradable polymeric materials are being developed, but their mechanical and thermal properties cannot compete with those of existing petrochemical-based plastics, especially those used as structural materials. Herein, we report a biodegradable plant cellulose nanofiber (CNF)-derived polymeric structural material with high-density reversible interaction networks between nanofibers, exhibiting mechanical and thermal properties better than those of existing petrochemical-based plastics. This all-green material has substantially improved flexural strength (∼300 MPa) and modulus (∼16 GPa) compared with those of existing petrochemical-based plastics. Its average thermal expansion coefficient is only 7 × 10–6 K–1, which is more than 10 times lower than those of petrochemical-based plastics, indicating its dimension is almost unchanged when heated, and thus, it has a thermal dimensional stability that is better than those of plastics. As a fully bioderived and degradable material, the all-green material offers a more sustainable high-performance alternative to petrochemical-based plastics.