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. 2014 Jun 18;15(6):11040-53.
doi: 10.3390/ijms150611040.

RETRACTED: Cellulose nanocrystals/ZnO as a bifunctional reinforcing nanocomposite for poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan blend films: fabrication, characterization and properties

Susan Azizi  1 , Mansor B Ahmad  2 , Nor Azowa Ibrahim  3 , Mohd Zobir Hussein  4 , Farideh Namvar  5
Affiliations

RETRACTED: Cellulose nanocrystals/ZnO as a bifunctional reinforcing nanocomposite for poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan blend films: fabrication, characterization and properties

Susan Azizi et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Retraction in

Abstract

In this study, cellulose nanocrystals/zinc oxide (CNCs/ZnO) nanocomposites were dispersed as bifunctional nano-sized fillers into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (Cs) blend by a solvent casting method to prepare PVA/Cs/CNCs/ZnO bio-nanocomposites films. The morphology, thermal, mechanical and UV-vis absorption properties, as well antimicrobial effects of the bio-nanocomposite films were investigated. It demonstrated that CNCs/ZnO were compatible with PVA/Cs and dispersed homogeneously in the polymer blend matrix. CNCs/ZnO improved tensile strength and modulus of PVA/Cs significantly. Tensile strength and modulus of bio-nanocomposite films increased from 55.0 to 153.2 MPa and from 395 to 932 MPa, respectively with increasing nano-sized filler amount from 0 to 5.0 wt %. The thermal stability of PVA/Cs was also enhanced at 1.0 wt % CNCs/ZnO loading. UV light can be efficiently absorbed by incorporating ZnO nanoparticles into a PVA/Cs matrix, signifying that these bio-nanocomposite films show good UV-shielding effects. Moreover, the biocomposites films showed antibacterial activity toward the bacterial species Salmonella choleraesuis and Staphylococcus aureus. The improved physical properties obtained by incorporating CNCs/ZnO can be useful in variety uses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) TEM image and (b) particle size distribution graph of cellulose nanocrystals/zinc oxide (CNCs/ZnO).
Figure 2
Figure 2
XRD pattern of CNCs/ZnO, poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan (PVA/Cs) blend and its CNCs/ZnO biocomposites.
Figure 3
Figure 3
FESEM micrographs of upper surfaces (a,c,d) and cross section surfaces (b,e) of PVA/Cs and PVA/Cs/CNCs/ZnO 5.0 wt % bio-nanocomposite, respectively; EDX spectrum (f) of bio-nanocomposite film.
Figure 4
Figure 4
TGA (a) and DTG (b) thermograms of PVA/Cs-based films.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Ultraviolet spectra of CNCs/ZnO (a); PVA/Cs blend (b); and PVA/Cs/CNCs/ZnO biocomposites from 1.0 to 7.0 wt % filler loading (c–f).
Figure 6
Figure 6
The amount of zinc released from PVA/Cs/CNCs/ZnO bio-nanocomposite films.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Inhibition zone images of PVA/Cs/CNCs/ZnO biocomposites against (a) Gram-positive and (b) Gram-negative bacteria.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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