Full-Wood Utilization Strategy toward a Directional Luminescent Solar Concentrator.

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have proven to be highly effective in enhancing the conversion efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) cells. However, the traditional LSCs always suffer from self-absorption and escape the losses of luminescence. To these challenges, this study presents an ingenious all-wood-based LSC (W-LSC) with directional light-concentrating capabilities. By converting lignin into fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and integrating them into transparent cellulose channels in delignified wood, we achieved efficient directional luminescence transmission in the W-LSC is achieved. The synthesized lignin-based CQDs (L-CQDs) exhibited a large Stokes shift (0.63 eV) and a bright yellow emission (540 nm). The prepared W-LSC possessed an external optical efficiency (ηopt) along the longitudinal (L) direction of 4.60% under a low irradiation intensity (40 mW·cm-2). Besides, contributed to the low thermal conductivity (0.300 W·m-1·K-1) of wood, the W-LSC maintained an ηopt of 4.03% at a temperature of 65 °C. Furthermore, the W-LSC demonstrated high tensile strength (424 MPa) and light transmission (85%). By leveraging the advantages of wood, this approach provides a different solution for enhancing solar energy utilization and advancing sustainable building.

Preparation and Characterization of Wood Scrimber Based on Eucalyptus Veneers Complexed with Ferrous Ions.

Wood-based products manufactured from fast-growing wood species such as eucalyptus have gained increasing attraction with the demand of using wood in architecture, furniture, and decoration. In this paper, a new type of wood scrimber based on eucalyptus veneers complexed with ferrous ions was prepared and its properties were characterized. The results showed that the presence of complexes did not affect the mechanical properties of eucalyptus wood scrimber, but made its surface more hydrophobic (contact angle increased by 38.48% and dimensional stability improved (thickness swelling rate decreased by 32.26%). Most importantly, the color of eucalyptus wood scrimber changed significantly, from the original brown to dark blue, and its anti-photoaging property also greatly improved. These advantages would make this type of wood scrimber based on the eucalyptus veneer complexes with ferrous ions more widely applicable in decorations and buildings.

Bamboo cellulose fibers prepared by different drying methods: Structure-property relationships.

Bamboo cellulose fibers (BCFs) has attracted increasing attention in many fields due to its high mechanical strength and interconnected porous structure. Drying is a key factor that determines the final structure and properties of BCFs. In this work, three kinds of BCFs, i.e., conventional-dried (CD-BCFs), freeze-dried (FD-BCFs), and supercritical CO2-dried (SD-BCFs), were prepared via different drying methods. The effects of drying methods on their supramolecular structure, porosity, and mechanical properties were studied, and the structure-property relationships were proposed. The CD-BCFs composed of well-aligned crystalline nanofibrils with a dense structure exhibited the best mechanical properties (tensile strength of 854.54 MPa). The SD-BCFs featured with interconnected 3D microfibril networks give a highly porous structure and the highest surface area of 9.162 m2/g. The FD-BCFs showed medium mechanical properties and surface area owing to the stacked lamellar microfibril network. This work provides guidelines for designing BCFs with proper structure for various end-use applications.

An in-depth study of molecular and supramolecular structures of bamboo cellulose upon heat treatment.

In this study, two methods including a common method using high concentration of alkali solution and a mild extraction method at ambient conditions were used to extract cellulose from bamboo. The results showed that two methods affected the initial state of the cellulose. Celluloses obtained by the former was a hybrid of cellulose I and II while the latter was pure cellulose I. However, their heat treatment results indicated that the heat treatment (≤200 °C) would not change the aggregation structure of bamboo cellulose, but it will cause the change of intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds, and the break of glycosidic bonds in the amorphous region and part of the crystalline region of cellulose. Accordingly, the crystallinity of bamboo cellulose will decrease slightly after heat treatment. Finally, the macroscopic morphology change of bamboo cellulose caused by heat treatment was the thermal expansion in the width direction instead of distort.

Multi-scale characterization of bamboo bonding interfaces with phenol-formaldehyde resin of different molecular weight to study the bonding mechanism.

Understanding the bonding mechanism of the interfacial region between bamboo and adhesives is essential for accelerating the development of improved adhesives for advanced bamboo-based materials. In this study, Br-labelled phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins with four different molecular weights (MWs) were used to make bamboo-adhesive interfaces for tracing the adhesives in bamboo. Ultra-depth-of-field microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy dispersion spectrometry were used to access the distribution and penetration of resin in the bamboo polymer. Fourier transform infrared images and solid-state cross-polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectra were used to access the molecular-scale interactions between PF resins and bamboo cell walls. The results showed that the PF resins with high MW infiltrated into the lumina of damaged bamboo cells near the bondline to form glue nails, while those with low MW penetrated into the bamboo cell wall to form nanomechanical interlocking. Chemical bonds and secondary forces such as polar forces and hydrogen bonds were generated between bamboo and PF resin. Finally, the twice-adhesive dispensing method combining low-MW resins with high-MW resins was used to improve the bonding strength of the interface.