Unlocking synergistically reinforced CNC-MG-PVA/PVP blend novel hybrid composites with enhanced structural,...

A sustainable, multi-step green chemical approach was used to create novel high-performance antimicrobial hybrid composite films by combining cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and microwave-assisted graphene (MG) into a polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) blend matrix through a green solution-casting process. To the best of our knowledge, no previous research has described an MG/CNC hybrid-reinforced PVA/PVP blend nanocomposite with detailed structural and functional characterization. Furthermore, CNCs were successfully extracted from agricultural okra waste via an environmentally friendly formic acid hydrolysis process for the first time. Concurrently, MG was produced utilizing a fast, solvent-free green exfoliation technique that used non-toxic, volatile ammonium bicarbonate as the blowing agent at a graphite-to-ammonium bicarbonate mass ratio of 1 : 3, which has not been reported before. Combining these two produced a synergistic reinforcement network that significantly enhanced the structure-property relationships of the polymer system. Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis proved significant hydrogen bonding and increased compatibility between the polymer matrix and hybrid nanofillers. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed homogeneous nanofiller dispersion, dense morphology, changed crystallinity due to reduced polymer chain mobility, and effective nano-reinforcement. The films also demonstrated remarkable antibacterial activity comparable to or exceeding that of previously reported graphene/polymer nanocomposites. The films demonstrated improved mechanical, thermal, and physicochemical properties. Their high-water adsorption capability is due to the abundance of hydrophilic sites. Film density investigation revealed additional structural compactness. Thus, this work introduces a sustainable hybrid platform that combines thermal stability, structural integrity, and antimicrobial functions in a single multifunctional material.