Cellulose nanofibers based composite membrane with high solar radiation and heat conduction for agricultural thermal dissipation application

Thermal dissipation materials that can emit thermal radiation and enhance thermal conductivity are critical for agricultural thermal management and the establishment of an energy efficient society. Here, cellulose nanofibers based composite membranes are prepared by extraction, homogenization, alkali treatment, and steam modification using rice straw as raw materials for agricultural thermal management. The composite membranes not only achieve a radiative cooling effect with high solar emissivity (0.89) for outdoor thermal management but also enables a synergetic effect with high thermal conductivity (2.103 W center dot m(-1)center dot K-1) to reduce the internal temperature of agricultural films, which is 7.2 degrees C cooler than mulch films. The alkali treatment process enables the formation of hydrogen bonds between boron nitride and cellulose nanofibers, thereby significantly enhancing the composite membrane's mechanical properties. The composite membranes exhibited excellent mechanical strength due to the new hydrogen bonds between boron nitride and cellulose nanofibers. Therefore, this work provides new ideas for exploring the comprehensive utilization of agricultural waste and the working mechanism for the preparation of agricultural waste-based materials, as well as a low-carbon development path of "agriculture-environment-energy".