Synergistic interaction of non-covalent and coordination bond to fabricate recyclable bamboo-based material

Biomass materials, such as wood and bamboo, possess properties such as renewability, biodegradability, and carbon storage, making them significantly advantageous in the circular economy. However, the processing of these materials often involves the use of synthetic resins, which is highly detrimental to their recyclability. Here, we report a strategy for preparing non-adhesive bamboo-based material (BBM) through the synergistic interaction of non-covalent bonds and coordination bonds, which exhibits a record-high bonding strength of 10.97 MPa, exceeding those of previously reported biomass adhesive materials. At displacement deformations below 1.4 Å, hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces play a dominant role on bonding strength; conversely ionic coordination bonds maintain the interface’s stability. The BBM also exhibits quasi-isotropic mechanical properties and excellent moldability. The life-cycle assessment reveals that producing BBM with a non-adhesive method leads to substantial reduction in carbon emissions compared with plywood, and carbon fiber composites. More importantly, the BBM is recyclable and reusable, with a retention in bonding strength of 84.1% after four cycles of recycling. This non-adhesive biomass material fabrication strategy fundamentally addresses the challenge of recycling woody solid waste, promoting the circular economy and global sustainable development.