Development and properties of wheat straw nano-holocellulose and reduced graphene oxide composite films for active packaging materials

Abstract

The nano-holocellulose was obtained from wheat straw, and a series of composite films were prepared from the nano-holocellulose and reduced graphene oxide by vacuum filtration. The properties of the resultant rGO/nano-holocellulose films were researched, including morphology, XRD analysis, mechanical properties, UV-Vis transparency, contact angle, water vapor permeabilities, swelling properties, thermogravimetric analysis, and electrical conductivity. The results demonstrated that the tensile properties of the films were augmented by 639.8 %, as high as 88.70 MPa with the 8 % content of the rGO. The maximum UV transmittances of the 10 % rGO-Film in the far ultraviolet region, the middle ultraviolet region, and the near-ultraviolet region were 0.1 %, 0.4 %, and 2.1 %, respectively, which could blocked the penetration of ultraviolet light to a great extent. In addition, the hydrophilicity, water vapor permeability value, and swelling ratio of the composite films were reduced, and moreover, the composite films were endowed with the ability to conduct electricity. Compared with the 0 % rGO-Film, the contact angle of the 10 % rGO-Film was increased by about twice, and the water vapor permeability value was decreased by 10.7 %. Furthermore, 10 % rGO-Film exhibited an approximately 25-fold in conductivity compared to 1 % rGO-Film. Therefore, the nano-holocellulose based composite films have good application prospects in biodegradable packaging materials. • The composite film was prepared by nano-holocellulose and rGO. • The composite film was obtained by the vacuum filtration. • The tensile and UV resistance properties of the films were greatly enhanced by rGO. • The films were endowed with electrical conductivity by the rGO. • The composite films could be applied in packaging materials.