Aero- and carbogels from (modified) plant and bacterial cellulose

  • Preparation and characterization of very lightweight aerogels from plant and bacterial cellulose; special emphasis on characterization of the hierarchical pore structure
  • Reinforcement of cellulose aerogels by interpenetrating networks from silica or organic polymers aiming at largely preserving the open-porous structure
  • Preparation of hemocompatible cellulose phosphate aerogels as promising cell scaffold and bone replacement materials
  • Preparation of ultra-lightweight shaped bacterial cellulose aerogels; study of hitherto puzzling surface effects caused by scCO2 drying
  • Bacterial cellulose aerogels as matrices for slow-release applications (wound treatment, cosmetic applications)
  • Preparation of carbogels from cellulosic aerogels for hydrogen storage and supercapacitor applications

Key publications:

  1. Litschauer, M., Neouze, M.A.*, Haimer, E, Rosenau, T., Liebner, F., Silica coating of cellulose aerogels, Monatshefte für Chemie, submitted.
  2. Liebner, F., Potthast, A., Haimer, E., Neouze, M.-A., Schlufter, K., Miethe, P., Heinze, T. and Rosenau, T., Aerogels from unaltered bacterial cellulose: Application of scCO2 drying for the preparation of shaped, ultra-lightweight cellulosic aerogels. Macromolecular Bioscience 10/4 (2010) 349-352.
  3. Liebner, F., Potthast, A., Rosenau, T., Haimer, E., Wendland, M., Loidl, D., Tschegg, S., Neouze, M.-A.: Synthesis and properties of ultra light-weight cellulosic aerogels, Holzforschung 63 (2009), pp. 3–11.
  4. Liebner, F., Potthast, A., Rosenau, T., Haimer, E., Wendland, M.: Cellulose aerogels- highly porous, ultra-lightweight biomaterials. Holzforschung, 62 (2008) 129-135.