Fabrication of carbon nanofiber by pyrolysis of freeze-dried cellulose nanofiber

The possibility of fabricating carbon nanofibers from cellulose nanofibers was investigated. Cellulose nanofiber of ~50 nm in diameter was produced using ball milling in an eco-friendly manner. The effect of the drying techniques of cellulose nanofibers on the morphology of carbon residue was studied. After pyrolysis of freeze-dried cellulose nanofibers below 600 °C, amorphous carbon fibers of ~20 nm in diameter were obtained. The pyrolysis of oven-dried precursors resulted in the loss of original fibrous structures. The different results arising from the two drying techniques are attributed to the difference in the spatial distance between cellulose nanofiber precursors.     

Novel TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber/polyvinyl alcohol/polyethyleneimine nanoparticles for Cu2+ removal in water

Cellulose - In this study, environmentally friendly TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TO-CNF)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyethyleneimine (PEI) nanoparticles were obtained by assembling PEI into...     

Functionalization of cellulose nanofiber mats with phthalocyanine for decoloration of reactive dye wastewater

A versatile method is reported for the preparation of cellulose nanofiber mats immobilized with cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine (CoPc). This functionalized cellulose nanomaterial was used as an efficient catalyst for the decoloration of reactive dye wastewater. Cellulose acetate was electrospun into nanofiber mats (CA-NM), hydrolyzed with KOH, and then oxidized by NaIO₄ to generate aldehyde groups for CoPc immobilization. The functionalization processes on the nanofiber mats were monitored by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR/FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). We found these CoPc-functionalized nanofiber mats (CoPc-NM) have high adsorption capacity for reactive dye from synthetic wastewater, which enhances the catalytic oxidation rate of reactive dye when H₂O₂ is present as oxidant. More than 90% of reactive red X-3B can be eliminated by CoPc-NM/H₂O₂ in 90?min. UV and GC-MS analyses indicate the catalytic oxidation not only breaking the azo linkages but also decomposing the aromatic parts of reactive red X-3B, and the main products are biodegradable aliphatic acids, such as fumaric acid, succinic acid, and maleic acid, etc. Repetitive measurements also show that this CoPc-NM is quite stable and remains efficient with no obvious decrease of catalytic activity.     

Freshwater-durable and marine-degradable cellulose nanofiber reinforced starch film

Cellulose - Cellulose can replace single-use petrochemical packaging; however, its lack of freshwater durability restricts its applicability. This study used a wet pulverization process to prepare...     

Transition sandwich Janus membrane of cellulose acetate and polyurethane nanofibers for oil–water separation

Cellulose - Through sequential electrospinning, a sandwich Janus membrane (PU-(CA/PU)-CA) was constructed with hydrophobic polyurethane (PU) nanofiber membrane as the top layer, cellulose...     

Use of electrospinning to directly fabricate three-dimensional nanofiber stacks of cellulose acetate under high relative humidity condition

Unique structure-controllable three-dimensional (3D) nanofiber stacks of cellulose acetate (CA) were fabricated successfully by simply increasing relative humidity (RH) during the electrospinning process. It is found that once the RH exceeding 60 %, 3D flocculent nanofiber stacks would grow on the flat plate collector toward the needle tip without using special assisting apparatus or preparing special electrospinning solution. Compared with those obtained at low RH, the as-prepared nanofibers fabricated under high RH condition exhibited similar nanofiber diameter, density and porosity, and more importantly, 3D flocculent structures instead of typical two-dimensional (2D) electrospun non-woven mats, which would contribute to a significant improvement on the hydrophilicity. It is believed that rapid solidification of CA during the jet process and strong charge repulsion among CA nanofibers play important roles in the formation of 3D nanofibrous structure. Furthermore, these 3D flocculent nanofiber scaffolds exhibited better cytocompatibilities with human MG-63 cells than common 2D nanofibrous mats. Thus a facile and effective approach was presented to prepare 3D nanofiber stacks with tunable and reproducible properties for biodegradable scaffold applications.     

Templated carbon nanofiber with mesoporosity and semiconductivity

We have newly fabricated a long one-dimensional (1D) mesoporous carbon nanofiber by using a mesoporous silica nanofiber template. The resulting mesoporous carbon nanofiber shows the unique mesoporous structure of circularly wound nanochannel alignment perpendicular to the long fiber axis and the high gas sorption property, which interestingly presents the p-type semiconducting behavior.     

Isolation and characterization of cellulose nanofibers from four plant cellulose fibers using a chemical-ultrasonic process

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were isolated from four kinds of plant cellulose fibers by a chemical-ultrasonic treatment. The chemical composition, morphology, crystalline behavior, and thermal properties of the nanofibers and their intermediate products were characterized and compared. The CNFs extracted from wood, bamboo, and wheat straw fibers had uniform diameters of 10–40 nm, whereas the flax fibers were not uniformly nanofibrillated because of their initially high cellulose content. The chemical composition of each kind of nanofibers was mainly cellulose because hemicelluloses and lignin were significantly removed during chemical process. The crystallinity of the nanofibers increased as the chemical treatments were applied. The degradation temperature of each kind of nanofiber reached beyond 330 °C. Based on the properties of the CNFs, we expect that they will be suitable for use in green nanocomposites, filtration media and optically transparent films.     

Preparation and characterization of bacterial cellulose/heparin hybrid nanofiber for potential vascular tissue engineering scaffolds

Blending two polymers is a common and effective way to develop a new material with combinations of properties not possessed by individual polymers and to overcome some limitations of individual components. This study aimed at developing a novel scaffold to mimic natural extracellular matrix (ECM) and to promote blood compatibility. Heparin (Hep) and bacterial cellulose (BC), for the first time, were hybridized to prepare a novel class of nanofibrous scaffold for vascular tissue engineering by the co‐synthesis process. The morphology of Hep–BC hybrid nanofiber was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The hybrid was further characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The results show that hybridizing heparin brings anticoagulant sulfate groups into BC nanofiber and that Hep–BC nanofiber has a different structure in comparison to pristine BC. This work paves a new way of improving anticoagulant property of tissue engineered vessels other than coating process. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of a spacer on phthalocyanine functionalized cellulose nanofiber mats for decolorizing reactive dye wastewater

We report a novel cobalt tetraaminophthalocyanine (CoPc) functionalized nanomaterial by spacer-arm immobilization of CoPc onto cellulose nanofiber mats. The spacer-arm was attached through the reaction of tetraethylenepentamine with oxidized cellulose nanofiber mats. CoPc was then covalently immobilized onto the spacer-arm using glutaraldehyde. The functionalization processes on the nanofiber mats were monitored by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This CoPc functionalized nanomaterial (CoPc-spacer-NM) was used for decoloration of reactive dye wastewater. Incorporation of the spacer-arm resulted in enhanced decoloration with respect to directly immobilized CoPc onto the cellulose nanofiber mats (CoPc-NM). Compared with CoPc-NM, CoPc-spacer-NM shows much higher adsorption capacity when conducted under acidic conditions, which enhances the catalytic oxidation rate of reactive dye when H₂O₂ was used as an oxidant. Reactive dye wastewater can also be efficiently decolorized by the CoPc-spacer-NM/H₂O₂ system under basic conditions, despite a relatively weak adsorption capacity. Electron paramagnetic resonance results suggested that the catalytic oxidation process involves the formation and reaction of hydroxyl radicals. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry showed the main products of the catalytic oxidation of reactive red X-3B were biodegradable aliphatic acids, such as oxalic acid, malonic acid and maleic acid.     

Bacterial cellulose nanofiber reinforced poly(glycerol-sebacate) biomimetic matrix for 3D cell culture

Cellulose - Conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture is dramatically different from three-dimensional (3D) in vivo environment cells experience in vivo. Here, a new kind of 3D cell culture...     

Low reflectivity and high flexibility of tin-doped indium oxide nanofiber transparent electrodes

Tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) has found widespread use in solar cells, displays, and touch screens as a transparent electrode; however, two major problems with ITO remain: high reflectivity (up to 10%) and insufficient flexibility. Together, these problems severely limit the applications of ITO films for future optoelectronic devices. In this communication, we report the fabrication of ITO nanofiber network transparent electrodes. The nanofiber networks show optical reflectivity as low as 5% and high flexibility; the nanofiber networks can be bent to a radius of 2 mm with negligible changes in the sheet resistance.     

One step in situ synthesis of Ag/AgCl nanoparticles in a cellulose nanofiber matrix for the development of energy storage paper

Cellulose - In the present work, we prepare Cellulose Nanofibers Films (CNFs) incorporating silver nanostructures (Ag/AgCl nanocubes) in a ratio of 1–20 wt% to the organic matrix. We found...     

Mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy/silicon carbide nanofiber composites

The silicon carbide (SiC) nanofibers (0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 phr), produced by self‐propagating high‐temperature synthesis (SHS), are used to reinforce the epoxy matrix cured with an anhydride hardener. Morphological studies reveal a better dispersion of SiC nanofibers and a good level of adhesion between nanofiber and the matrix in composites with lower (0.1 and 0.25 phr) nanofiber loading. The flexural studies show that a maximum increase in flexural properties is obtained for composites with 0.25 phr SiC nanofiber. The fracture toughness of epoxy is found to increase with the incorporation of SiC nanofibers, and 0.25 phr SiC nanofiber loading shows maximum fracture toughness value. The possible fracture mechanisms that exist in epoxy/SiC nanofiber composites have been investigated in detail. Thermogravimetric analysis reveals that SiC nanofibers are effective fillers to improve the thermal stability of epoxy matrix. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Molybdenum disulphide/cellulose acetate nanofiber composite on screen printed electrodes for detecting cardiac troponin by electrical impedance spectroscopy

Cellulose - Elevated levels of Troponin I, a cardiac biomarker, is indicative of an Acute Myocardial Infarction. However, current immunosensing methods to detect the presence of Troponin I such as...     

以细菌纤维素为前驱体简便制备氮掺杂碳纤维气凝胶作为高效氧还原催化剂

数十年来,碳气凝胶因其在催化剂载体、电容器和锂电池电极材料以及吸附剂等领域的潜在应用而备受关注.然而,传统碳气凝胶的制备往往使用昂贵且有毒的前驱体,其方法也较为复杂,不利于大规模生产及应用.本文介绍了一种以细菌纤维素为前驱体制备氮掺杂碳纤维气凝胶的方法.该方法廉价高效,简单易行且对环境无害.所制气凝胶具有密度低、孔隙度高、比表面积大以及导电性良好等优点.它继承了细菌纤维素生物质优异的三维交联多孔结构的特点,可直接用作氧还原催化剂,表现出优异的催化性能,预示着其广泛的应用前景.这在该领域的应用报道尚属首次.     

Composites of polystyrene and surface modified cellulose nanocrystals prepared by melt processing

Cellulose - Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were surface modified with benzoic acid anhydride (BzAnh) at room temperature in 48-h reaction time. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the high degree of...     

Preparation,properties, and application of polypropylene micro/nanofiber membranes

Nanofiber membranes have huge potential applications in many areas due to their unique properties. However, the thermoplastic micro/nanofiber membranes were rarely reported. In this paper, polypropylene (PP) nanofibers were prepared by melt extrusion of immiscible blends of PP, cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), and subsequent removal of the CAB matrix. The wet‐laid application was used to make PP nanofiber membranes and PP‐g‐MAH/nonwoven micro/nanofiber membrane. The properties of membranes including morphology, apparent density, porosity, contact‐angle, pore size distribution, and water flux were characterized. The results showed that the consequent membranes were provided with optimistic porosity and pore size distribution. Moreover, they were all with high pure water fluxes, which were superior to that of PP microporous membrane. They performed an excellent separation performance of TiO₂ suspension and dyeing wastewater. The work revealed this method could be an efficient one to make thermoplastic polymer micro/nanofiber membranes, and they would have a brilliant potential application for water treatment. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative characterization of phosphorylated wood holocelluloses and celluloses for nanocellulose production

Cellulose - Raw material selection for cellulose nanofiber (CNF) production is a crucial step for tailoring CNF properties for its intended applications. Thus, understanding the dependency of the...     

Adsorption and redox processes at carbon nanofiber electrodes grown onto a ceramic fiber backbone

The adsorption of aromatic compounds onto activated carbons and carbon nanofibers is of considerable technical importance and beneficial in electroanalytical procedures. Here, effects due to the strong adsorption of hydroquinone, benzoquinone, and phenol onto carbon nanofiber electrodes immersed in aqueous media are reported. Carbon nanofiber materials (fiber diameter approximately 100 nm) are grown onto ceramic fiber substrates by employing an ambient pressure chemical vapour deposition process. The resulting composite electrode material is sufficiently electrically conducting due to the high carbon content and mechanically robust due to the ceramic backbone. It is shown that the voltammetric signal obtained for the one electron reduction of Ru(NH₃)₆³⁺ is dominated by solution trapped in the three-dimensional electrode structure. In contrast, for the hydroquinone/benzoquinone redox system in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7) strong adsorption onto the carbon nanofiber material is observed. In the presence of phenol also strong adsorption is detected. In the course of the chemically irreversible oxidation of phenol in aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7), the formation of multi-electron oxidation products related to benzoquinone is observed. The pathway for the oxidation process is attributed to (i) the high surface area of the carbon nanofiber electrode and (ii) the adsorption of intermediates.