Development of porous materials based on nanocellulose: Modulating morphology and physical-mechanical properties through different freezing processes

• Grant number: 24/22247-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Rubia Figueredo Gouveia
• Grantee: Geovana Bettero Cansian Lima
• Host Institution: Centro Nacional de Pesquisa em Energia e Materiais (CNPEM). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Nanocellulose-based cryogels are widely used in various applications due to the versatile control of their microstructures, as well as the growing demand for more sustainable materials in the face of climate change. These are adjustable by the way the ice is formed, influencing the morphology and physico-mechanical properties of the cryogels. Each cryogel application requires precise control of its morphology, which directly affects its physico-mechanical properties. However, a combination of cryogel preparation techniques that ensures such precision while remaining cost-effective has not yet been fully established. To address this gap, the present work proposes the production of molds using 3D printing with polylactic acid (PLA), polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and copper. These materials induce a temperature gradient, controlling the ice nucleation and growth, and consequently, the microstructure of the cryogels. By varying the composition of the molds, it is expected to achieve different structural formats of cryogels, enabling a broader range of applications. This project expands the possibilities of using advanced porosity materials based on a fully plant-derived renewable material: cellulose.