Bamboo-derived composite hydrogels prepared by plum-blossom-inspired hierarchical assembly

Bamboo provides a renewable source of cellulose for fiber-reinforced hydrogels, but the relationship between its hierarchical structure and the properties of processed composites requires careful interpretation. Here, bamboo-derived composite hydrogels were prepared using a plum-blossom-inspired assembly strategy involving sequential extraction, alkaline treatment, bleaching, and xanthation. Microscopy and spectroscopic characterization were used to examine fibril organization, crystalline cellulose domains, and changes in the local bonding environment. Tensile testing distinguished fully swollen specimens from partially dehydrated, densified specimens. The densified material exhibited higher tensile strength and modulus, whereas swelling increased the failure strain. Thin specimens could also be bent, although bending flexibility does not establish large tensile extensibility. The observations are consistent with contributions from fibril reinforcement, interfacial interactions, and increased solid fraction on dehydration; the independent contribution of the plum-blossom-inspired architecture remains unresolved. The use of bamboo establishes a bio-based feedstock, but the process includes sodium hypochlorite and carbon disulfide, and its overall environmental and economic performance has not been established by life-cycle or techno-economic assessment. This study identifies hydration state and processing-dependent fiber organization as central considerations in evaluating bamboo-derived composite hydrogels and provides a basis for controlled investigations of their structure-property relationships.