Functional nanoparticle doped cellulose membranes prepared by a 'green method

• Applicant: Dr.-Ing. Alexandra Wittmar
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials
• Term: from 2016 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 308691677

Processing of cellulose (renewable material) with ionic liquids (green solvents) and functional nanoparticles like TiO2, ZnO, Fe3O4 and Ag, may open new rational and environmentally friendly pathways towards a new generation of porous nanocomposites which may find direct applications in water purification, catalysis and self cleaning materials.The advanced control of the non-solvent induced phase separation process for the generation of the desired mesoporous polymer structure as well as the homogenous distribution and accessibility of the nanoparticles within the matrix are necessary conditions for the preparation of functional composites. The efficient regeneration of the ionic liquid is an additional condition for project success. In previous works the applicant demonstrated that hydrophilic ionic liquids are excellent dispersants for metal oxide nanoparticles and the complex influence of the cation chain length on the dispersion quality and stability had been studied. Certain classes of ionic liquids have been proven also as excellent solvents for cellulose. In other studies the applicant also proved that TiO2 doped porous cellulose acetate membrane exhibit good catalytic activity for organic dye degradation.The beginning of the project will be focused on evaluation of the ionic liquids potential for the preparation of porous cellulose materials by non-solvent induced phase separation and on which are in this case the possibilities to control and design the pores structure. Further on the project will be focused on the integration of nanoparticles with different functionality during the preparation step in the cellulose membranes. A special attention will be given to the influence of the nanoparticle addition to the phase separation process and porous nanocomposite structure formation. It will be aimed towards homogenous dispersion and stable integration of the functional dopant within the polymer matrix. Depending of the dopant used, differentiated testing of the produced nanocomposite (catalytic activity, magneto-thermal heating) will be performed. In a separate part of the project, the focus will be set on the investigation of the ionic liquids recyclability including their separation from the components of the coagulation bath.The knowledge which will be acquired in this project may constitute the base for other future projects which will evaluate the potential use of the cellulose based nanocomposite as separation membrane (for ultrafiltration and nanofiltration or in combination with flow-though catalytic conversion) or as precursor for the preparation of carbon based nanocomposites with application in catalysis and energy storage.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Mathias Ulbricht