13. Nanoscale characterization of cellulosic materials by infrared nanospectroscopy

The infrared nanospectroscopy technique allows chemical information to be obtained with a lateral resolution of 20 nm, which is significantly better than what is possible with conventional IR microscopy. This technique has here been used in nanoscale studies of various cellulosic materials like nanoparticles from wood, tunicate, cotton, as well as in examinations of wood cell walls and wood fibers. Such detailed characterizations provide an important insight about the morphology of individual nanocellulose particles and the nanoscale distribution of constituents such as cellulose and lignin in wood cell walls.