A versatile stepwise surface engineering strategy for cellulose nanofibers towards a multifunctional platform for multidisciplinary applications

초록

Cellulose nanofibers (CL NFs) are renewable, biocompatible materials with a high surface area and abundant hydroxyl groups, making them attractive for use in membranes, composites, and environmental applications. Their surface chemistry allows for facile modification, enabling the introduction of functional moieties tailored to specific purposes. However, introducing multiple functionalities in a controlled and stable manner remains a practical challenge, especially when targeting advanced performance such as enhanced selectivity or increased surface heterogeneity. While numerous surface functionalization strategies have been explored, approaches that allow controlled, stepwise incorporation of diverse and complementary functionalities on CL NFs remain to be further explored. In this study, we report a surface engineering strategy designed to impart multifunctionality to electrospun CL NFs. Regenerated CL NFs were prepared by electrospinning cellulose acetate followed by deacetylation, and were then sequentially modified with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES), trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA), and branched zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (BZIF-8). This approach enabled the integration of amine, methacrylate, and porous MOF domains onto the cellulose nanofiber surface, enhancing both chemical reactivity and membrane porosity. Notably, the final composite maintained a high porosity of 29.45%, while the mean pore size was precisely tuned to 0.9224 mu m, facilitating efficient molecular transport. The findings demonstrate the successful fabrication of functionally enhanced CL NFs and highlight their potential as a versatile platform for environmental filtration, catalysis, and related applications.

키워드