Bottom-up Construction of Xylan Nanocrystals in Dimethyl Sulfoxide

A new type of polysaccharide (hemicellulose) nanocrystal, bearing the shape an anisotropic nanoflake, emerged from a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) dispersion wood-based xylan through heat-induced crystallization. The dimensions these nanocrystals were controlled by crystallization conditions. Sharp signals in solid-state NMR indicated well-ordered crystal structure. unit cell is constituted two asymmetric xylose residues, and DMSO molecules resided host–guest arrangement with more than one local environment. This corroborates identical 1H relaxation time between xylan, indicative intimate mixing at tens nanometer length scale. X-ray electron diffraction 2-fold helical helix along chain monoclinic antiparallel arrangement, chains placed on axes: corner center. structure unique for which only 3-fold form has been reported. participated crystallization, they shown to be vital stabilizing crystalline manipulation temperature, concentration, incubation xylan/DMSO provided pathways size-adjustable nanocrystals. As 20–30% biomass consists hemicelluloses, this work will serve as starting point understand assembly hemicelluloses discover their full application potential.