Elaboration of Cellulose Nanocrystal/Ge-Imogolite\nNanotube Multilayered Thin Films

Abstract

Multilayered thin\nfilms combining two oppositely charged nanoparticles\n(NPs), i.e., cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and Ge-imogolites, have\nbeen successfully obtained by the layer-by-layer method. CNC/Ge-imogolite\n(NP/NP) film growth patterns were studied by comparing growth mode\nof all of the nanoparticles thin films to that of films composed of\nCNC or Ge-imogolites combined with polyelectrolytes (PEs), i.e., cationic\npoly­(allylamine hydrochloride) and anionic poly-4-styrene sulfonate\n(NP/PE films). NP/NP and NP/PE films growth patterns were found to\nbe different. To get a deeper understanding of the growth mode of\nNP/NP, impact of different parameters, such as imogolites aspect ratio,\nadsorption time, ionic strength, and repeated immersion/drying, was\nevaluated and influence of the drying step is emphasized. The aspect\nratio of imogolites was identified as an important feature for the\nfilm’s architecture. The short Ge-imogolites form denser films\nbecause the surface packing was more efficient.