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Barrios N, Parra JG, Venditti RA, Pal L. Elucidation of temperature-induced water structuring on cellulose surfaces for environmental and energy sustainability. Carbohydr Polym 2024; 329:121799. [PMID: 38286532 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Optimizing drying energy in the forest products industry is critical for integrating lignocellulosic feedstocks across all manufacturing sectors. Despite substantial efforts to reduce thermal energy consumption during drying, further enhancements are possible. Cellulose, the main component of forest products, is Earth's most abundant biopolymer and a promising renewable feedstock. This study employs all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to explore the structural dynamics of a small Iβ-cellulose microcrystallite and surrounding water layers during drying. Molecular and atomistic profiles revealed localized water near the cellulose surface, with water structuring extending beyond 8 Å into the water bulk, influencing solvent-accessible surface area and solvation energy. With increasing temperature, there was a ∼20 % reduction in the cellulose surface available for interaction with water molecules, and a ∼22 % reduction in solvation energy. The number of hydrogen bonds increased with thicker water layers, facilitated by a "bridging" effect. Electrostatic interactions dominated the intermolecular interactions at all temperatures, creating an energetic barrier that hinders water removal, slowing the drying processes. Understanding temperature-dependent cellulose-water interactions at the molecular level will help in designing novel strategies to address drying energy consumption, advancing the adoption of lignocellulosics as viable manufacturing feedstocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelson Barrios
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, NC State University, 431 Dan Allen Drive, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC 27695-8005, USA
| | - José G Parra
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, NC State University, 431 Dan Allen Drive, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC 27695-8005, USA; Universidad de Carabobo, Facultad Experimental de Ciencias y Tecnología, Dpto. De Química, Lab. De Química Computacional (QUIMICOMP), Edificio de Química, Avenida Salvador Allende, Bárbula, Venezuela
| | - Richard A Venditti
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, NC State University, 431 Dan Allen Drive, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC 27695-8005, USA
| | - Lokendra Pal
- Department of Forest Biomaterials, NC State University, 431 Dan Allen Drive, Campus Box 8005, Raleigh, NC 27695-8005, USA.
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2
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Yu J, Zhang Y, Cosgrove DJ. The nonlinear mechanics of highly extensible plant epidermal cell walls. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2316396121. [PMID: 38165937 PMCID: PMC10786299 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2316396121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Plant epidermal cell walls maintain the mechanical integrity of plants and restrict organ growth. Mechanical analyses can give insights into wall structure and are inputs for mechanobiology models of plant growth. To better understand the intrinsic mechanics of epidermal cell walls and how they may accommodate large deformations during growth, we analyzed a geometrically simple material, onion epidermal strips consisting of only the outer (periclinal) cell wall, ~7 μm thick. With uniaxial stretching by >40%, the wall showed complex three-phase stress-strain responses while cyclic stretching revealed reversible and irreversible deformations and elastic hysteresis. Stretching at varying strain rates and temperatures indicated the wall behaved more like a network of flexible cellulose fibers capable of sliding than a viscoelastic composite with pectin viscosity. We developed an analytic framework to quantify nonlinear wall mechanics in terms of stiffness, deformation, and energy dissipation, finding that the wall stretches by combined elastic and plastic deformation without compromising its stiffness. We also analyzed mechanical changes in slightly dehydrated walls. Their extension became stiffer and more irreversible, highlighting the influence of water on cellulose stiffness and sliding. This study offers insights into the structure and deformation modes of primary cell walls and presents a framework that is also applicable to tissues and whole organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Yu
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
| | - Yao Zhang
- Department of Mechanics, School of Aerospace Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan430074, China
- China Hubei Key Laboratory of Engineering Structural Analysis and Safety Assessment, Wuhan430074, China
| | - Daniel J. Cosgrove
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16802
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Dong H, Li X, Cai Z, Wei S, Fan S, Ge Y, Li X, Wu Y. Strong, Lightweight, and Shape-Memory Bamboo-Derived All-Cellulose Aerogels for Versatile Scaffolds of Sustainable Multifunctional Materials. Small 2024; 20:e2305857. [PMID: 37705126 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202305857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Strong, lightweight, and shape-memory cellulose aerogels have great potential in multifunctional applications. However, achieving the integration of these features into a cellulose aerogel without harsh chemical modifications and the addition of mechanical enhancers remains challenging. In this study, a strong, lightweight, and water-stimulated shape-memory all-cellulose aerogel (ACA) is created using a combination strategy of partial dissolution and unidirectional freezing from bamboo. Benefiting from the firm architecture of cellulose microfibers bridging cellulose nanofibers /regenerated cellulose aggregated layers and the bonding of different cellulose crystal components (cellulose Iβ and cellulose II), the ACA, with low density (60.74 mg cm-3 ), possesses high compressive modulus (radial section: 1.2 MPa, axial section: 0.96 MPa). Additionally, when stimulated with water, the ACA exhibits excellent shape-memory features, including highly reversible compression-resilience and instantaneous fold-expansion behaviors. As a versatile scaffold, ACA can be integrated with hydroxyapatite, carboxyl carbon nanotubes, and LiCl, respectively, via a simple impregnation method to yield functionalized cellulose composites for applications in thermal insulation, electromagnetic interference shielding, and piezoresistive sensors. This study provides inspiration and a reliable strategy for the elaborately structural design of functional cellulose aerogels endows application prospects in various multifunction opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongping Dong
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, P. R. China
| | - Xiazhen Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, P. R. China
| | - Zhiyong Cai
- USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, WI, 53726-2398, USA
| | - Song Wei
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, P. R. China
| | - Shutong Fan
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, P. R. China
| | - Yanglin Ge
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, P. R. China
| | - Xianjun Li
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, P. R. China
| | - Yiqiang Wu
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, P. R. China
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Li L, Tian W, VahidMohammadi A, Rostami J, Chen B, Matthews K, Ram F, Pettersson T, Wågberg L, Benselfelt T, Gogotsi Y, Berglund LA, Hamedi MM. Ultrastrong Ionotronic Films Showing Electrochemical Osmotic Actuation. Adv Mater 2023; 35:e2301163. [PMID: 37491007 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202301163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
A multifunctional soft material with high ionic and electrical conductivity, combined with high mechanical properties and the ability to change shape can enable bioinspired responsive devices and systems. The incorporation of all these characteristics in a single material is very challenging, as the improvement of one property tends to reduce other properties. Here, a nanocomposite film based on charged, high-aspect-ratio 1D flexible nanocellulose fibrils, and 2D Ti3 C2 Tx MXene is presented. The self-assembly process results in a stratified structure with the nanoparticles aligned in-plane, providing high ionotronic conductivity and mechanical strength, as well as large water uptake. In hydrogel form with 20 wt% liquid, the electrical conductivity is over 200 S cm-1 and the in-plane tensile strength is close to 100 MPa. This multifunctional performance results from the uniquely layered composite structure at nano- and mesoscales. A new type of electrical soft actuator is assembled where voltage as low as ±1 V resulted in osmotic effects and giant reversible out-of-plane swelling, reaching 85% strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lengwan Li
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Weiqian Tian
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, 266100, China
| | - Armin VahidMohammadi
- A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Jowan Rostami
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Bin Chen
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Kyle Matthews
- A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Farsa Ram
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Torbjörn Pettersson
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Lars Wågberg
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Tobias Benselfelt
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Yury Gogotsi
- A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Lars A Berglund
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Mahiar Max Hamedi
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Wallenberg Wood Science Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
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Östmans R, Cortes Ruiz MF, Rostami J, Sellman FA, Wågberg L, Lindström SB, Benselfelt T. Elastoplastic behavior of anisotropic, physically crosslinked hydrogel networks comprising stiff, charged fibrils in an electrolyte. Soft Matter 2023; 19:2792-2800. [PMID: 36992628 DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01571d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Fibrillar hydrogels are remarkably stiff, low-density networks that can hold vast amounts of water. These hydrogels can easily be made anisotropic by orienting the fibrils using different methods. Unlike the detailed and established descriptions of polymer gels, there is no coherent theoretical framework describing the elastoplastic behavior of fibrillar gels, especially concerning anisotropy. In this work, the swelling pressures of anisotropic fibrillar hydrogels made from cellulose nanofibrils were measured in the direction perpendicular to the fibril alignment. This experimental data was used to develop a model comprising three mechanical elements representing the network and the osmotic pressure due to non-ionic and ionic surface groups on the fibrils. At low solidity, the stiffness of the hydrogels was dominated by the ionic swelling pressure governed by the osmotic ingress of water. Fibrils with different functionality show the influence of aspect ratio, chemical functionality, and the remaining amount of hemicelluloses. This general model describes physically crosslinked hydrogels comprising fibrils with high flexural rigidity - that is, with a persistence length larger than the mesh size. The experimental technique is a framework to study and understand the importance of fibrillar networks for the evolution of multicellular organisms, like plants, and the influence of different components in plant cell walls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Östmans
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Division of Fibre Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria F Cortes Ruiz
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Division of Fibre Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jowan Rostami
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Division of Fibre Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Farhiya Alex Sellman
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Division of Fibre Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Wågberg
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Division of Fibre Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
- Wallenberg Wood Science Center, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Tobias Benselfelt
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, Division of Fibre Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden.
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798 Singapore, Singapore.
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Solhi L, Guccini V, Heise K, Solala I, Niinivaara E, Xu W, Mihhels K, Kröger M, Meng Z, Wohlert J, Tao H, Cranston ED, Kontturi E. Understanding Nanocellulose-Water Interactions: Turning a Detriment into an Asset. Chem Rev 2023; 123:1925-2015. [PMID: 36724185 PMCID: PMC9999435 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Modern technology has enabled the isolation of nanocellulose from plant-based fibers, and the current trend focuses on utilizing nanocellulose in a broad range of sustainable materials applications. Water is generally seen as a detrimental component when in contact with nanocellulose-based materials, just like it is harmful for traditional cellulosic materials such as paper or cardboard. However, water is an integral component in plants, and many applications of nanocellulose already accept the presence of water or make use of it. This review gives a comprehensive account of nanocellulose-water interactions and their repercussions in all key areas of contemporary research: fundamental physical chemistry, chemical modification of nanocellulose, materials applications, and analytical methods to map the water interactions and the effect of water on a nanocellulose matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laleh Solhi
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland
| | - Valentina Guccini
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland
| | - Katja Heise
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland
| | - Iina Solala
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland
| | - Elina Niinivaara
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland.,Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Wenyang Xu
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland.,Laboratory of Natural Materials Technology, Åbo Akademi University, TurkuFI-20500, Finland
| | - Karl Mihhels
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland
| | - Marcel Kröger
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland
| | - Zhuojun Meng
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland.,Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou325001, China
| | - Jakob Wohlert
- Wallenberg Wood Science Centre (WWSC), Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Han Tao
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland
| | - Emily D Cranston
- Department of Wood Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z4, Canada.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British ColumbiaV6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Eero Kontturi
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, EspooFI-00076, Finland
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Vallejos ME, Aguado RJ, Morcillo-Martín R, Méndez JA, Vilaseca F, Tarrés Q, Mutjé P. Behavior of the Flexural Strength of Hemp/Polypropylene Composites: Evaluation of the Intrinsic Flexural Strength of Untreated Hemp Strands. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15. [PMID: 36679252 DOI: 10.3390/polym15020371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing demand for plant fiber-reinforced composites offers new opportunities to compete against glass fiber (GF)-reinforced composites, but their performance must be assessed, revised, and improved as much as possible. This work reports on the production and the flexural strength of composites from polypropylene (PP) and hemp strands (20-50 wt.%), using maleic anhydride-grafted PP (MAPP) as a compatibilizer. A computational assessment of the reaction between cellulose and MAPP suggested the formation of only one ester bond per maleic anhydride unit as the most stable product. We determined the most favorable MAPP dosage to be 0.06 g per gram of fiber. The maximum enhancement in flexural strength that was attained with this proportion of MAPP was 148%, corresponding to the maximum fiber load. The modified rule of mixtures and the assumption of similar coupling factors for tensile and flexural strength allowed us to estimate the intrinsic flexural strength of hemp strands as 953 ± 116 MPa. While falling short of the values for sized GF (2415 MPa), the reinforcement efficiency parameter of the natural fibers (0.209) was found to be higher than that of GF (0.045).
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