Preparation of Cellulose Particles with a Hollow Structure

In this study, we report the preparation of hollow cellulose particles via a solvent-releasing method with the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([Emim]Ac). A dispersion comprising [Emim]Ac droplets with dissolved cellulose and a hexane medium containing a stabilizer was poured into a large amount of acetone (precipitant), resulting in the precipitation of cellulose and the formation of solid cellulose particles with a hollow structure. We found that the formation of the hollow structure resulted from the equilibrium phase separation. Porous structures were also obtained using ethanol or t-butanol as a precipitant, where cellulose immediately precipitated (i.e., exhibited non-equilibrium phase separation). In the case where acetone was used as the precipitant, the diffusion rate of [Emim]Ac from the droplets into the precipitant was relatively low; that is, the precipitation of cellulose was delayed, which allowed the cellulose to be phase-separated into a thermodynamically stable structure (equilibrium phase separation), resulting in the formation of the hollow structure.