# Cellulose Ether/Citric Acid Systems Loaded with SrTiO3 Nanoparticles with Solvent-Tailored Features for Energy-Related Technologies

## TL;DR

This paper explores eco-friendly composites with cellulose ether and citric acid mixed with strontium titanate nanoparticles, showing how different solvents affect their properties for energy applications.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel approach to modulate composite properties via solvent selection, enhancing optical and dielectric behavior in eco-compatible materials.

## Key findings

- Using H2O2 as a solvent increases transparency, yellowness, refractive index, and permittivity compared to H2O.
- Solvent-driven interactions significantly alter the composite's morphological and thermal characteristics.
- Citric acid acts as a crosslinker and reacts differently based on the solvent used.

## Abstract

This work aimed to advance the knowledge in the field of eco-friendly dielectrics with applicative relevance for future energy-related technologies. New multicomponent composites were prepared by using a cellulose ether/citric acid mixture as the matrix, which was gradually filled with strontium titanate nanoparticles (5–20 wt%). In this case, citric acid can act as a crosslinking agent for the polymer but also can react differently with the other counterparts from the composite as a function of the solvent used (H2O and H2O2). This led to considerable differences in the morphological, thermal, optical, and electrical characteristics due to distinct solvent-driven interactions, as revealed by the infrared spectroscopy investigation. Hence, in contrast to H2O, the oxidizing activity of H2O2 led to changes in the surface morphology, a greater transparency, a greater yellowness, an enhanced refractive index, and higher permittivity. These data provide new pathways to advance the optical and dielectric behavior of eco-compatible materials for energy devices by the careful selection of the composite’s components and the modulation of the molecular interactions via solvent features.