| Budget Amount *help |
¥26,910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥20,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥6,210,000)
Fiscal Year 2013: ¥3,640,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥840,000)
Fiscal Year 2012: ¥7,800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥6,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,800,000)
Fiscal Year 2011: ¥15,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥11,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥3,570,000)
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| Research Abstract |
Cellulose is produced in plant cell walls as crystalline microfibrils with excellent material properties. These microfibrils have recently been attracting much interest as structural components in nanomaterials. We have found for the first time that cellulose can be fully dispersed in water as individual microfibrils via the application of a topological surface carboxylation reaction on cellulose microfibrils. The dispersed microfibrils spontaneously align in water. The integration controls of the self-aligned microfibrils, i.e., careful adjustment of the pH and evaporation of the solvent in the microfibril dispersions, produces a wide range of artificial bulk materials with outstanding properties. Examples include unprecedentedly stiff hydrogels that are free-standing with a water content of 99.9%, and transparent aerogels with mechanical toughness and high heat-insulation.
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