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Salt-Controlled Multistep Phase Separation in Hydroxypropyl Cellulose Colloids for Sustainable Adhesives

delete2026-08-11
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PRE
AI
S
Shunfeng Yu
Z
Zhangmin Wan
J
Jiangpeng Jia
Y
Yijie Jin
C
Ce Zhao
Z
Zixuan Chen
S
Shuo Wang
Y
Yanbo Huang
W
Wenwen Fang
J
Jiaqi Guo
O
Orlando J. Rojas
褚光 (Guang Chu) *
DOI:10.1002/adfm.77615delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Phase separation is an evergreen subject that shapes our understanding of how order and functionality emerge from disordered complex soft matter systems. Here, we report on the salt-regulated transition from isotropic liquid-liquid phase separation to anisotropic liquid-liquid crystalline phase separation within an aqueous mixture of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and kosmotropic salt sodium citrate (Na3Cit). The phase behavior of the HPC-Na3Cit system is controlled by the competition for water molecules between the two components, which tunes the intermolecular interactions and drives the multistep self-assembly from a homogeneous solution into a disordered aqueous HPC-rich/salt-rich biphasic system, and ultimately the HPC-rich phase matures into ordered cholesteric liquid crystalline structure as the polymer chains align under the influence of intensified excluded volume effects. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the Na3Cit-induced confinement enhances the intermolecular hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions, while modulating water mobility and viscoelastic relaxation. This results in structurally heterogeneous colloidal network that integrates shear-resistant and energy-dissipating domains. Consequently, the resulting HPC-Na3Cit composite exhibits exceptional interfacial adhesion, particularly on wood surfaces, with strength exceeding 3.5 MPa and the structural integrity to support a 30 kg load across a minimal contact area. Our findings establish a robust strategy for bottom-up design of sustainable adhesive system.
Keywords:
adhesive materials
hydroxypropyl cellulose
liquid–liquid crystalline phase separation
liquid–liquid phase separation
sodium citrate

Journal

Advanced Functional Materials cover
Advanced Functional Materials
IF:
19
Papers:
3.4W
Citations:
32.1W

Organization

N
ningbo university
Scholars:
4.5K
Papers: 1.4K
Citations: 0
T
technical university of munich
Scholars:
6.1K
Papers: 2.5K
Citations: 1
C
china pharmaceutical university
Scholars:
3.0K
Papers: 626
Citations: 0
T
tiangong university
Scholars:
1.8K
Papers: 594
Citations: 0
N
nanjing forestry university
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3.9K
Papers: 1.4K
Citations: 0
S
Southeast University
Scholars:
1.8W
Papers: 7.6K
Citations: 480
U
University of British Columbia
Scholars:
6.8W
Papers: 6.1W
Citations: 8.6W
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