One-Pot Fabrication of Hydrophobic Nanocellulose-Silica Film for Water Resistant Packaging Application

Abstract

The utilization of renewable resource such as biomass in the production of green materials as an alternative to petrochemistry is increasing due to the depleting fossil resources and the increasing CO₂ emission. The present study focused on the use of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and dodecyltriethoxysilane (DTES) to modify surface of nanocellulose. One-pot method provides a facile and convenient route for the fabrication of hydrophobic nanocellulose-silica film as a renewable material for the water resistant packaging application. Morphological characterization of the hydrophobic nanocellulose-silica (NC-SiO₂-DTES) film showed well self-assembled DTES modified silica spherical nanoparticles with an average particle size of 126 nm over the nanocellulose film. The NCSiO₂-DTES film exhibited hydrophobic and superoleophilic properties simultaneously. It also performed chemical durability with an excellent hydrophobic property over a wide range of pH values. This approach is an alternative way to improve the hydrophobicity of nanocellulose films and can be applied in water resistant packaging.