Cellulose Nanocrystals in Spherical Titania-Sol Microdroplet: From Dynamic Self-Assembly to Nanostructured TiO<i>_x</i>/C Microsphere Synthesis

The study and control of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) self-assembly in spherical confinement remains a challenging unexplored area. It is difficult to directly observe the self-organization CNCs such geometry. Herein, dynamic observation process confined titania-sol microdroplet reported. isotropic-to-cholesteric transition undergoes nucleation, coalescence, migration tactoids through two coalescence mechanisms, namely, “head-to-tail” “side-to-side” types. solubility enable successful transfer chiral (Ch) nematic structure into hybrid TiOx/C microspheres. microspheres show higher photocatalytic H2 generation compared TiO2-P25. This work adds understanding geometry provides fresh avenue design nanostructured photoactive with unique Ch structures.