Nanoscale pores introduced into paper via mesoporous silica coatings using sol–gel chemistry

• DOI: 10.1039/d3nr01247f
• Publication Date: 2023-05-02T13:18:10Z
• Authors: J. J. Mikolei; D. Richter; R. Pardehkhorram; C. Helbrecht; S. Schabel; T. Meckel; M. Biesalski; M. Ceolin; A. Andrieu-Brunsen
• Keywords: paper; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.4; sol-gel; nanoscale; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; pore

Mesopores, with diameters between 2 and 50 nm, not only increase the specific surface area, but also generate hierarchically porous materials properties such as capillary fluid transport, ion pore accessibility, or size exclusion. Paper is a strongly hierarchical, material properties, force-driven transport. However, paper fibers change their morphology during initial step of wood disintegration. This results in changes fiber structure. In particular loose mesopores final drying fabrication process. Here, we investigate silica mesopore formation by sol-gel chemistry evaporation induced self-assembly to specifically introduce rationally design distribution cotton linter eucalyptus sulfate sheets. We demonstrate importance synchronizing solvent rate velocity ensure well influence type solution composition. The combination argon krypton sorption, SAXS, TEM CLSM provides systematic analysis structure along cellulose length cross-section. These provide deeper understanding how latter influenced fluidic properties.