title: Cellulose nanocrystals: A layered host candidate for fabricating intercalated nanocomposites.
abstract: The stacking of cellulose chains along planes and weak intersheet interactions make cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) promising as a layered host candidate for fabricating intercalated nanocomposites. As a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate the intercalation of alkyls into CNCs through the in situ intercalative chemical reaction between terminal groups of N-octadecyl isocyanates and hydroxyl groups on the (200) planes in CNCs. Results showed that CNCs could intercalate alkyls in a high degree of substitution to form dense brushes on their (200) planes. After intercalation, a significant enlargement of interlayer spacing was observed. Moreover, alkyls were fully extended in all-trans configuration and crystallized in a co-existing organization of αH, βHand βOcrystalline forms. This meant that the molecular arrangement in CNCs/alkyl intercalated nanocomposites would involve a bilayer model in which alkyls were in the ordered packing and titled to (200) plane. Furthermore, CNCs/alkyl intercalated nanocomposites possessed increased thermal properties and decreased char residue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wood Anatomy and Utilization, Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Research Institute for Forestry New Technology, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China.
authors.forename: Wenbo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Wood Anatomy and Utilization, Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Center for Renewable Carbon, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Siqun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Wood Anatomy and Utilization, Research Institute of Wood Industry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China; Research Institute for Forestry New Technology, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, China. Electronic address: yafang@caf.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Yafang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: College of Chemistry, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China. Electronic address: gydx.1027@163.com.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
keywords: Cellulose nanocrystals; Intercalation; Molecular structure; Thermal properties; X-ray diffraction