Biomimetic foams of high mechanical performance based on nanostructured cell walls reinforced by native cellulose nanofibrils

A bioinspired foam in which cellulose nanofibrils are used to reinforce cell walls (ca. 3 mu m) is presented. The nanocomposite foams are prepared by a lyophilization technique and show composite structure at the cell-wall scale. The nanocellulosic network shows remarkable mechanical performance, expressed in much-improved modulus and yield strength compared with the neat starch foam.