Combining cobalt ferrite and graphite with cellulose nanocrystals for magnetically active and electrically conducting mesoporous nanohybrids

Erlantz Lizundia; Mikel Rincón-Iglesias; Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116001

Combining cobalt ferrite and graphite with cellulose nanocrystals for magnetically active and electrically conducting mesoporous nanohybrids

Carbohydr Polym. 2020 May 15:236:116001. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116001. Epub 2020 Feb 13.

Authors

Erlantz Lizundia¹, Mikel Rincón-Iglesias², Senentxu Lanceros-Méndez³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Graphic Design and Engineering Projects, Bilbao Faculty of Engineering, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, 48013, Spain; BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940, Leioa, Spain; Laboratory for Multifunctional Materials, Department of Materials, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 5, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland. Electronic address: erlantz.liizundia@ehu.eus.
² BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940, Leioa, Spain.
³ BCMaterials, Basque Center for Materials, Applications and Nanostructures, UPV/EHU Science Park, 48940, Leioa, Spain; IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48013, Bilbao, Spain.

PMID: 32172835
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116001

Abstract

Free-standing mesoporous membranes based on cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are fabricated upon the incorporation of cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) and graphite nanoparticles at concentrations up to 20 wt % through a soft-templating process. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms reveal the development of highly-porous interconnected random 3D structure with surface areas up to 193.9 m² g^-1. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows an enhanced thermal stability thanks to the formation of a tortuous network limiting the hindrance of degradation by-products. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) reveals a maximum magnetization saturation of 8.77 emu·g^-1 with materials having either ferromagnetic or diamagnetic behaviour upon the incorporation of CoFe₂O₄ and graphite, respectively. Four-point-probe measurements display a maximum electrical conductivity of 9.26 ± 0.04 S·m^-1 when graphite is incorporated into CNCs. A proof of concept for the applicability of synthesized nanohybrids for environmental remediation is provided, presenting the advantage of their easy recovery using external magnetic fields.

Keywords: Carbon (PubChem CID: 5462310); Cellulose (PubChem CID: 14055602); Cellulose nanocrystal; Cobalt ferrite; Cobalt ferrite (PubChem CID: 336944067); D-glucose (PubChem CID: 5793); Distilled water (PubChem CID: 962); Environmental remediation; Graphite; Mesopororosity; Renewable materials; Sulphuric acid (PubChem CID: 1118); Tetraethyl orthosilicate (PubChem CID: 6517).