Cellulose hydrogel/silica nanocomposites

What is it about?

Cellulose-based hydrogel nanocomposite materials have been attracted increasing attention owing to their potential applications in different areas including medical, electrical, optical, and magnetic fields. This is due to the fact that cellulose is one of the most abundant resources and possesses several unique properties required in medical fields, whereas silica nanoparticles (nSiO2) play an important role in developing materials with high functionality. In this study, cottonseed hull (CSH) was used as a source of cellulose and nSiO2 was used to prepare hydrogel nanocomposite films via phase inversion method without chemical crosslinking agent of cellulose.

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Why is it important?

Our research exhibited that the addition of an appropriate loading of nSiO2 enhanced the tensile strength (2–6 wt %), modulus (all, but 10 wt % optimal), and elastic modulus (all, but 10 wt % optimal) of the cellulose-based hydrogels, whereas the elongation at break was decreased with the inclusion of nSiO2. Moreover, the SEM observation of the tensile fractured surface of the hydrogel nanocomposites at low loadings of nSiO2 (2–6 wt %) revealed a well dispersion and interfacial adhesion of nSiO2 in cellulose hydrogel matrix, whereas those of the hydrogel nanocomposites at high loadings of nSiO2 (8 and 10 wt %) exhibited a number of voids on the fractured surface of the cellulose hydrogel matrix owing to the pulling out of nSiO2 from matrix during the tensile deformation. Moreover, the TEM images showed the nano-cluster grape of nSiO2 surrounded by cellulose molecule.

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