Viscoelastic Response in Hydrous Polymers: The Role of Hydrogen Bonds and Microstructure.
Nano Lett
; 24(12): 3811-3818, 2024 Mar 27.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38470141
ABSTRACT
Water responsive polymers represent a remarkable group of soft materials, acting as a laboratory for diverse water responsive physical phenomena and cutting-edge biology-electronics interfaces. We report on peculiarly distinctive viscoelastic behaviors of the biobased water responsive polymer cellulose 10-undecenoyl ester, while biobased regenerated cellulose displays stronger hydroplastic behaviors. We discovered a novel hydrous deformation mechanism involving the stretching of hydrogen bonds mediated by hydroxyl groups and water molecules, serving as a crucial factor in accommodating deformations. In parallel, the microstructure of cellulose 10-undecenoyl ester with unique coexisting nanoparticles and a continuous phase of entangled chains is mechanically resilient in the anhydrous state but enhances structural stiffness in the hydrous state. This variation arises from a different hydration level within the hydrous microstructure. Such a fundamental discovery offers valuable insights into the connection between the microscopic physical properties that can be influenced by water and the corresponding viscoelastic responses, extending its applicability to a wide range of hygroscopic materials.
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01-internacional
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MEDLINE
Language:
En
Journal:
Nano Lett
/
Nano lett
/
Nano letters
Year:
2024
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Article
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