Zwitterionic chitin nanocrystals mediated composite and self-assembly with cellulose nanofibrils

Zwitterionic dispersed chitin nanocrystals and TEMPO oxidized cellulose nanofibrils can be well mixed and self-assembled to be hydrogels/membranes. Active carboxyl groups ensure the well mixing of zwitterionic chitin nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibrils under neutral and alkaline condition. Electrostatic attraction between amino groups in chitin nanocrystals and carboxyl groups in chitin nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibrils further endows self-assemble property of composite suspensions. Simple standing for 12 h at room temperature is found enough for preparing self-assembled composite hydrogels. By 1-(3-dimethy-laminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxy succinimide (EDC/NHS) mediated chemical crosslinking, the storage modulus of composite hydrogel can achieve almost 8 times higher than self-assembled hydrogel. Well dispersed composite suspensions also can be transformed to be membranes via filtration treatment. The strain increases almost 2.3 times higher with similar tensile strength for cellulose nanofibril rich samples, and chitin nanocrystals mainly contributes to the enhancement in strain of composite membranes.