This article reports a facile preparation of a
lignocellulose aerogel from a solution of wood in an ionic liquid
by cyclic freezethaw (FT) process. Trema orientalis wood
flour was dissolved in 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride
(AMImCl), an effective ionic liquid, and then repeatedly frozen
at20 Cand thawed at 20 Cfor several times, and then finally
regenerated in water. The hydrogel obtained was solvent exchanged
to acetone, washed with liquid carbon dioxide, and
finally dried by releasing the carbon dioxide at critical temperature
to obtain the lignocellulose aerogel. The aerogel had an
open 3D fibrillar network and could be transformed from nanofibrillar to sheet-like skeletons with hierarchical micro- and nanoscale
morphology and porosity by adjusting the FT treatment cycles. The frequency of FT cycles influenced the intensity, specific surface,
crystallinity, and thermostability of the aerogel. This research highlights new opportunities for the development of porous and
flexible aerogel scaffolds.