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Structure and transformation of tactoids in cellulose nanocrystal suspensions

Author

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  • Pei-Xi Wang

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Wadood Y. Hamad

    (FPInnovations)

  • Mark J. MacLachlan

    (University of British Columbia)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Pei-Xi Wang & Wadood Y. Hamad & Mark J. MacLachlan, 2016. "Structure and transformation of tactoids in cellulose nanocrystal suspensions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11515
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11515
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaofang Zhang & Saewon Kang & Katarina Adstedt & Minkyu Kim & Rui Xiong & Juan Yu & Xinran Chen & Xulin Zhao & Chunhong Ye & Vladimir V. Tsukruk, 2022. "Uniformly aligned flexible magnetic films from bacterial nanocelluloses for fast actuating optical materials," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.

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