HARDWOOD CELLULOSE NANOCRYSTALS:MULTI-LAYERED SELF-ASSEMBLY WITH EVIDENCE OF CIRCULAR AND DISTINCT NEMATIC PITCH

摘要

In this study, the formation of a self-assembly pattern and the nematic pitch of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have been investigated first in a liquid state via Optical Microscopy (OM) and then in a dry state using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). Furthermore, the surface characteristics of self-assembly patterns of hardwood bleached kraft pulp cellulose nanocrystals (HW-CNCs) were investigated under FE-SEM. HW-CNCs had a rod-like structure with a length of 202 +/- 52 nm and width of 14.9 +/- 3.9 nm. The circular patterns of self-assembled layers, with a differential area ranging from 3.0 mu m to 30 mu m, were evident. Furthermore, the HW-CNC thin film showed a left-hand twist and a self-ordering structure. Such characteristics of CNCs open substantial possibilities for building bio-based three-dimensional (3D) nanostructures or 3D nanoengineering materials. In this work, we have demonstrated the self-assembly of CNCs in multi-layers with circular patterns and distinct nematic pitch.