Wood xerogel for fabrication of high-performance transparent wood

Shennan Wang, Lengwan Li, Li Zha, Salla Koskela, Lars A. Berglund and Qi Zhou ()
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Shennan Wang: AlbaNova University Centre
Lengwan Li: KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Li Zha: AlbaNova University Centre
Salla Koskela: AlbaNova University Centre
Lars A. Berglund: KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Qi Zhou: AlbaNova University Centre

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Optically transparent wood has been fabricated by structure-retaining delignification of wood and subsequent infiltration of thermo- or photocurable polymer resins but still limited by the intrinsic low mesopore volume of the delignified wood. Here we report a facile approach to fabricate strong transparent wood composites using the wood xerogel which allows solvent-free infiltration of resin monomers into the wood cell wall under ambient conditions. The wood xerogel with high specific surface area (260 m2 g–1) and high mesopore volume (0.37 cm3 g–1) is prepared by evaporative drying of delignified wood comprising fibrillated cell walls at ambient pressure. The mesoporous wood xerogel is compressible in the transverse direction and provides precise control of the microstructure, wood volume fraction, and mechanical properties for the transparent wood composites without compromising the optical transmittance. Transparent wood composites of large size and high wood volume fraction (50%) are successfully prepared, demonstrating potential scalability of the method.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38481-x

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