4.7 Article

Synergistic effect of zwitterion-modified cellulose nanocrystals and chitin nanofibrils on regulated composite membranes

Journal

CELLULOSE
Volume 30, Issue 7, Pages 4469-4484

Publisher

SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10570-023-05156-1

Keywords

Cellulose nanocrystals; Zwitterion; Chitin nanofibrils; Composites

Ask authors/readers for more resources

This study proposes a strategy to regulate the surface properties, charges, and stiffness of CNC composite membranes by incorporating zwitterion and chitin nanofibrils components. The synthesized zwitterion gives the modified CNCs a pH-sensitive charged surface, displaying a cationic form in acidic conditions and converting to an anionic surface in alkaline states. The ionic bridge between the semi-flexible nanofibrils and rigid CNCs effectively reduces the nanohardness of the composite membranes, resulting in uniform surface and microstructural morphologies.
Membranes organized by rigid cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), the highly crystalline nano-objects, exhibit a wide range of potential applications attributed to their numerous advantages including excellent hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, high crystallinity, and superior strength. However, the correlation between mechanical stiffness and structural arrangements for CNC-based membranes is still a challenge, particularly in a predictive manner for the tailored macroscale performance. This study proposes a strategy of regulating the surface properties, charges and stiffness of CNC composite membranes with the incorporation of the zwitterion and chitin nanofibrils (ChNFs) components. The synthesized zwitterion (n, n-dipropionate methyl ester octadecylamine) endows the modified CNCs with a pH-sensitively charged surface, displaying the cationic form in the acidic condition while converted to anionic surface in the alkaline state. The ionic bridge between semi-flexible nanofibrils and rigid CNCs can effectively reduce the nanohardness of the composite membranes, taking the uniform surface and microstructural morphologies.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.7
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available