Polymer induced liquid crystal phase behavior of cellulose nanocrystal dispersions.

ABSTRACT: Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are a promising bio-based material that has attracted significant attention in the fabrication of functional hybrid materials. The rod-like shape and negative surface charge of CNCs enable their rich colloidal behavior, such as a liquid crystalline phase and hydrogel formation that can be mediated by different additives. This study investigates the effect of depletion-induced attraction in the presence of non-absorbing polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights in CNC aqueous dispersions, where the polymer molecules deplete the space around particles, apply osmotic pressure and drive the phase transition. Polarized light microscopy (PLM), rheology, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) are used to characterize the

SUBMITTER: Sun Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9642361 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature