title: Cellulose aerogels from aqueous alkali hydroxide-urea solution.
abstract: Highly porous and strong cellulose aerogels were prepared by gelation of cellulose from aqueous alkali hydroxide/urea solution, followed by drying with supercritical CO2. Their morphology, pore structure, and physical properties were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption measurements, UV/Vis spectrometry, and tensile tests. The cellulose hydrogel was composed of interconnected about 20 nm wide. By using supercritical CO2 drying, the network structure in the hydrogel was well preserved in the aerogel. The results are preliminary but demonstrate the ability of this method to give cellulose aerogels of large surface areas (400-500 m2 g(-1)) which may be useful as adsorbents, heat/sound insulators, filters, catalyst supports, or carbon aerogel precursors.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan. jiecaiwhu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Masahisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Shigenori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuga
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000468:Alkalies / Q000737:chemistry; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions; D013499:Surface Properties; D014508:Urea / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000468:Alkalies; D005782:Gels; D020100:Hydrogels; D006878:Hydroxides; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D014508:Urea; D002482:Cellulose; D009584:Nitrogen