Multifunctional cellulose films via metal ion crosslinking with flame retardancy, motion sensitivity and fire-warning...

The growing demand for advanced sustainable materials has stimulated significant interest in biomass materials, among which cellulose has attracted considerable attention due to its notable eco-benefits and tunable properties. However, the fire hazard caused by the inherent flammability of cellulose restricts its widespread application. In this study, micro-carboxymethylated cellulose (MC) is prepared by regulating the carboxymethylation process, which improved the compatibility between cellulose and sodium alginate (SA). Subsequently, the functional component graphite is introduced and cross-linked with metal ions to prepare a composite cellulose film. The synergistic flame-retardant effect between graphite and metal ions enhanced the fire resistance of cellulose film (LOI = 41.6% ± 1.2%), inducing the formation of a dense carbon layer. With the enhanced carbonization ability of the cellulose membrane and improved compatibility between MC and SA, the cellulose film exhibits sensitive flame response properties (∼ 1.5 s). Additionally, the conductivity of graphite and photothermal conversion capability endow the cellulose film with suitability for flexible sensing and photothermal evaporation applications. This work provides a strategy for preparing bio-based flame-retardant materials, which largely improves the utilization of bio-based polymers and provides inspiration and solutions for the development of functional cellulose-based films.