@article {https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202108227,
	title = {Cellulose Nanocrystal Aqueous Colloidal Suspensions: Evidence of Density Inversion at the Isotropic-liquid Crystal Phase Transition},
	journal = {Advanced Materials},
	volume = {n/a},
	number = {n/a},
	year = {2022},
	note = {<p>n/a</p>
},
	pages = {2108227},
	abstract = {<p>Abstract The colloidal suspensions of aqueous cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are known to form liquid crystalline systems above certain critical concentrations. From an isotropic phase; tactoid formation; growth; and sedimentation have been determined as the genesis of a high-density cholesteric phase; which after drying; originates solid iridescent films. Herein; we report the coexistence of a liquid crystal upper phase and an isotropic bottom phase in CNC aqueous suspensions at isotropic-nematic phase separation for the first time. Furthermore; isotropic spindle-like domains are observed in the low-density liquid crystalline phase; and high-density liquid crystalline phases are also prepared. The CNCs isolated from the low- and high-density liquid crystalline phases are found to have similar average lengths; diameters; and surface charges. The existence of a liquid crystalline low-density phase is explained by the presence of air dissolved in the water present within the CNCs. The air dissolves out when the water solidifies into ice and remains within the CNCs. The self-adjustment of the cellulose chain conformation enables the entrapment of air within the CNCs and CNC buoyancy in aqueous suspensions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved</p>
},
	keywords = {aqueous suspensions, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), liquid crystals, low-density liquid crystalline phase},
	doi = {https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202108227},
	url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/adma.202108227},
	author = {da Rosa, Rafaela R. and Silva, Pedro E. S. and Saraiva, Diogo V. and Kumar, Anant and de Sousa, Ant{\'o}nio P. Mendes and Sebasti{\~a}o, Pedro and Fernandes, Susete N. and Godinho, Maria Helena}
}
