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Related Concept Videos

Adhesion01:14

Adhesion

43.3K
Adhesion occurs when one type of molecule is attracted to a different molecule. Water exhibits adhesive properties in the presence of polar surfaces, such as glass or cellulose in plants. For instance, when water is poured into a glass, the positively charged hydrogen molecules of water are more attracted to the negatively charged oxygen molecules in the silica than to the oxygen in neighboring water molecules.
Capillary action is a result of water’s adhesive tendencies. When a narrow...
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Electrical Conductivity01:13

Electrical Conductivity

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In perfect conductors, the electric field inside is always zero due to the abundance of free electrons, which nullify any field by flowing. As a result, any residual charge resides on the surface.
In a practical conductor, an applied electric field may be sustained, causing a flow of electrons, which produce a current. The differential form of the current, the current density, is related to the electric field.
More generally, it is related to the force per unit charge, which involves the...
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Water and Mineral Acquisition02:34

Water and Mineral Acquisition

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Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
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Electronic conduction in water-adsorbed kenaf cellulose.

Mikio Fukuhara1, Tomonori Yokotsuka2, Tetsuo Samoto2

  • 1New Industry Creation Hatchery Center, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan. mikio.fukuhara.b2@tohoku.ac.jp.

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|December 19, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Kenaf cellulose absorbs significant water, behaving like a solid electronic conductor. Water molecules form a quasi-solid layer on cellulose nanofibrils, altering electrical properties.

Keywords:
AC impedanceElectron spin resonanceElectronic conductionRectification effectSingle molecular quasi-solid layerWater-adsorbed kenaf cellulose

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Physical Chemistry
  • Biomaterials

Background:

  • Cellulose, a natural polymer, possesses high water absorbency.
  • Understanding water's interaction with cellulose is crucial for its applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the electrical properties of water-adsorbed kenaf cellulose.
  • To elucidate the state of water within the cellulose matrix.

Main Methods:

  • Dielectric spectroscopy to measure impedance and dielectric loss.
  • Direct current conduction measurements.
  • Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy.
  • First-principles calculations.

Main Results:

  • Water absorption reached approximately 17.5 wt% at saturation.
  • Increased water content led to higher impedance and lower dielectric loss.
  • DC conduction showed ohmic behavior at low water content and rectification at >= 6% water.
  • ESR spectra indicated the presence of radical electrons, linked to water content.
  • First-principles calculations predicted a quasi-solid single molecular layer of water on nanofibrils.

Conclusions:

  • Water in kenaf cellulose exists in a quasi-solid state, not as a fluid.
  • Water adsorption transforms cellulose into a solid electronic conductor.
  • These findings have implications for cellulose-based electronic materials.