Rongzhuang Song¹, Yinbo Zhu^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.30, No.3, pp. 1-1, 2024, DOI:10.32604/icces.2024.012598

Abstract Kink defects are prevalent in nanocellulose. The existence of diverse kink patterns lacking molecular-scale resolution has caused uncertainty regarding the mechanisms governing the formation of different kinks in nanocellulose, including both reversible and irreversible kinks. The constraints resulting from these limitations often lead to significant confusion in exploring the structure-property relationships of nanocellulose. By integrating AFM experiments with molecular dynamics simulations, we examined the microstructure-dependent kink deformations in nanocellulose (Iβ phase) and the resultant local microstructural damages. In atomic force microscopy images, bent nanofibrils typically display minor curvatures, whereas kinked nanofibrils exhibit pronounced sharp bends,… More >

Rongzhuang Song^1,*

The International Conference on Computational & Experimental Engineering and Sciences, Vol.27, No.2, pp. 1-1, 2023, DOI:10.32604/icces.2023.09608

Abstract Kink defects in nanocellulose are ubiquitous yet associated questions remain open regarding the unclear microstructure-mechanical property relationship. Various kink patterns without molecular-scale resolution result in bemusements of how nanocellulose forms different kinks and what the fundamental mechanisms of reversible and irreversible kinks are. In our atomic force microscopy images of mechanically treated cellulose nanofibrils, bent nanofibrils usually exhibit small curvatures while kinked nanofibrils feature sharp bends, in which kinks are conspicuous due to their promiscuous configurations. To identify the nanomechanics of incipient kink defects formed in nanocellulose, molecular dynamics simulations of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) under… More >

Yangyang Hao, Yue Liu^*, Guorui Cao^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.10, No.12, pp. 3505-3519, 2022, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2022.023122 - 14 July 2022

Abstract Aiming to reduce the defects of perovskite film and improve carrier transport, an organic small molecule, benzo [d]isothiazol-3(2H)-one 1,1-dioxide (OBS), is introduced as an additive in the solution-processing of perovskite and prepare uniform perovskite films with a continuous distribution of OBS at grain boundaries. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy are conducted to reveal the interactions of hydrogen bonding and coordination bonding between OBS and perovskite. Various characterizations (including X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, etc.) are conducted to uncover the effect of OBS on device performance. Consequently, high efficiency of 23.26% More > Graphic Abstract

Poonam Trivedi¹, Jens Schaller², Jan Gustafsson¹, Pedro Fardim^1,3*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 400-409, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634143

Abstract In the present study, we report the supramolecular design of cellulose-sulfonate hydrogel beads by blending water soluble sodium cellulose ethyl sulfonate (CES) with the pretreated cellulose in sodium hydroxide-ureawater solvent system at −6 °C followed by coagulation in the 2M sulfuric acid system. The increasing of CES amount from 10% to 90% had a substantial effect on the viscosity and storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli of the blended solutions. The CES concentration up to 50% in blends led to the formation of physically stable hydrogels after coagulation in acidic medium at pH-1 and showed… More >

Shegufta Shetranjiwalla, Shaojun Li, Laziz Bouzidi, Suresh S. Narine^*

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.5, No.5, pp. 333-344, 2017, DOI:10.7569/JRM.2017.634102

Abstract The impact of polymerization protocol on phase structure and properties of entirely lipid-derived thermoplastic poly(ester urethane)s (TPEU)s was investigated. The TPEUs were synthesized from 1,7-heptamethylene diisocyanate, polyester diols and 1,9-nonanediol (ND) as chain extender. A two-stage polymerization method was used to prepare two TPEUs; one in which ND was added in the first stage of polymerization as part of the prepolymer and another in the second stage after the prepolymer was formed. Two very different morphologies exhibiting different degrees of phase separation were obtained, driven by the sequence of addition of the chain extender. The More >