Robust cellulose nanocomposite films based on covalently cross-linked network with effective resistance to water permeability.

Abstract

Cellulose films are of poor water-vapor barrier performance. Herein, we put forward an effective way to suppress adsorption by crosslinking of hydroxyl groups via epichlorohydrin (ECH), meanwhile graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets are utilized to prolong the pathway of vapor penetration. The strategy confers a significant enhancement of vapor barrier performance as well as mechanical properties to cellulose-based films. Specifically, an outstanding reduction of 67.4% in water-vapor permeability coefficient is achieved in nanocomposite films compared to the uncrosslinked cellulose films. Furthermore, for the first time, two-dimensional correlation analysis reveals that crosslinking of ECH do not alter penetration direction, while GO can eminently act as shielding for the formation of bound water which change the sequential order of firstly-interacted vapor area from crystalline to amorphous area. Free volume is the penetration destination. The retarding effect introduced by the GO in amorphous area gives rise to the improvement of the vapor-barrier.