Robust flexural performance and fracture behavior of TiO<sub>2</sub> decorated densified bamboo as sustainable structural materials.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 36871036.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-023-36939-6 and PMC identifier 9985615.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
High-performance, fast-growing natural materials with sustainable and functional features currently arouse significant attention. Here, facile processing, involving delignification, in situ hydrothermal synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub> and pressure densification, is employed to transform natural bamboo into a high-performance structural material. The resulting TiO<sub>2</sub>-decorated densified bamboo exhibits high flexural strength and elastic stiffness, with both properties more than double that of natural bamboo. Real-time acoustic emission reveals the key role of the TiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles in enhancing the flexural properties. The introduction of nanoscale TiO<sub>2</sub> is found to markedly increase the degree of oxidation and the formation of hydrogen bonds in bamboo materials, leading to extensive interfacial failure between the microfibers, a micro-fibrillation process that results in substantial energy consumption and high fracture resistance. This work furthers the strategy of the synthetic reinforcement of fast-growing natural materials, which could lead to the expanded applications of sustainable materials for high-performance structural applications.