title: Structure and transformation of tactoids in cellulose nanocrystal suspensions.
abstract: Cellulose nanocrystals obtained from natural sources are of great interest for many applications. In water, cellulose nanocrystals form a liquid crystalline phase whose hierarchical structure is retained in solid films after drying. Although tactoids, one of the most primitive components of liquid crystals, are thought to have a significant role in the evolution of this phase, they have evaded structural study of their internal organization. Here we report the capture of cellulose nanocrystal tactoids in a polymer matrix. This method allows us to visualize, for the first time, the arrangement of cellulose nanocrystals within individual tactoids by electron microscopy. Furthermore, we can follow the structural evolution of the liquid crystalline phase from tactoids to iridescent-layered films. Our insights into the early nucleation events of cellulose nanocrystals give important information about the growth of cholesteric liquid crystalline phases, especially for cellulose nanocrystals, and are crucial for preparing photonics-quality films.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1.
authors.forename: Pei-Xi
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0683-4818
authors.initials: PX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: FPInnovations, 2665 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z4.
authors.forename: Wadood Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6T 1Z1.
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: MacLachlan