Preparation of cellulose nanofibrils for imaging purposes: comparison of liquid cryogens for rapid vitrification
Torstensen, Jonathan Ø; Johnsen, Per-Olav; Riis, Henrik; Spontak, Richard J; Deng, Liyuan; Gregersen, Øyvind Weiby; Syverud, Kristin
Journal article, Peer reviewed
Accepted version
Åpne
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http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2592695Utgivelsesdato
2018Metadata
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Sammendrag
Artifact-free imaging of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from aqueous nanocellulose suspensions is nontrivial due to frequent irreversible agglomeration and structure damage during the course of sample preparation, especially as water is solidified prior to freeze-drying. In this study, we have examined the morphologies of CNF suspensions prepared by rapid vitrification in two different liquid cryogens—nitrogen and ethane—followed by freeze-drying. Results obtained by scanning electron microscopy confirm that vitrification in liquid ethane not only greatly improves the survivability of fine-scale CNF structural elements but also significantly reduces the propensity for CNF to agglomerate.