Sustainable High-Performance Structural Materials from Micro/nanostructured Corn Stover.

Abstract

Corn stover, as an abundant agricultural residue, has not been well reutilized due to the lack of efficient utilization methods. Based on micro/nanoscale structure design of corn stover, we report an environmentally friendly strategy to prepare micro/nanostructured corn stover-based building blocks. Then, through the directed deformation assembly approach, a high value-added corn stover structural material (CSSM) that with higher strength and more excellent thermal stability than most widely used plastics and wood-plastic composites can be prepared. The entire production process is green and economical, and the life cycle assessment (LCA) results indicate that it is a low-carbon emission, sustainable material. Moreover, CSSM can be composed with nanoscale building blocks to achieve multifunctionality. For example, by incorporating carbon nanotubes, we prepare a corn stover structural material with Joule-heating effects for indoor thermal management. This broadens the range of applications for corn stover-based structural materials.