IN SITUvisualization of water adsorption in cellulose nanofiber film with micrometer spatial resolution using micro-FTIR imaging

Hygroscopic behavior is an inherent characteristic of nanocellulose film which strongly affects its applications. In order to gain a better understanding of water adsorption, micro-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) imaging was used to investigate the water adsorption in cellulose nanofiber film with a spatial resolution of 20 um. Four spectral peaks at 2905 cm−1, 1428 cm−1, 1371 cm−1, and 1317 cm−1 attributed to CH and CH2 groups were used to generate 2D micro-FTIR images of cellulose distribution, and the most intense peak at 3348 cm−1 was employed to generate 2D micro-FTIR image of OH group distribution. On this basis, difference 2D micro-FTIR images of OH group distribution at different relative humidity (RH) levels demonstrated the development of adsorbed water distribution in cellulose nanofiber film during the water adsorption process. The study results confirmed that the micro-FTIR imaging was one promising tool for in situ visualization of water adsorption with micron-scale resolution.