An unusual spherulite morphology induced by nano-fillers from a concentrated cellulose/ionic liquid solution

Abstract

An unusual spherulite morphology consisting of an eye-like region surrounded by a normal region was found in concentrated cellulose solutions in the ionic liquid AmimCl, especially in the presence of 0.5 wt% MWCNTs. In comparison with the normal region, the eye-like region had a different growth rate and different morphology, such as birefringence and band spacing, although both regions had similar crystalline modification and microstructure. On heating, the regions with an initial positive birefringence transformed to more thermodynamically stable negative ones without influencing the band spacing, and the change was irreversible upon cooling.