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Microhoneycomb Monoliths Prepared by the Unidirectional Freeze-drying of Cellulose Nanofiber Based Sols: Method and Extensions
Published on: May 24, 2018
Flexible photochromic cellulose triacetate based bionanocomposites modified with sol-gel synthesized V2O5
Joseba Gomez-Hermoso-de-Mendoza1, Hernane S Barud2, Junkal Gutierrez3
1`Materials+Technologies´ Group (GMT), Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Gipuzkoa, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Plaza Europa 1, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.
Abstract:
Transparent and flexible bionanocomposites with photochromic properties based on cellulose triacetate (CTA) and sol-gel synthesized V2O5 nanoparticles were prepared. Poly(ethylene oxide-b-propylene oxide-b-ethylene oxide) (EPE) triblock copolymer was added to achieve nanostructured materials and simultaneously control the dispersion of synthesized V2O5 nanoparticles. Investigated bionanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), tensile tests, and UV-vis spectroscopy. FTIR results confirmed the presence of hydrogen bonds in the bionanocomposites. The miscibility between components improved with the increase of sol-gel content resulting in a decrease of the Tg and Tm of CTA phase as indicated by DSC results. Addition of EPE triblock copolymer enhanced the photochromic properties of bionanocomposites reducing the time of recovery to the initial state after 5 min of UV light irradiation. The biocompatibility of pure CTA and EPE/CTA blends as well as the photochromic properties provided by synthesized V2O5 nanoparticles make their transparent and flexible bionanocomposites ideal for possible future applications.
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