Influence of supramolecular architecture on the optical and thermal responses of sugarcane bagasse and pomegranate-peel-derived cellulose

Abstract

The supramolecular architecture of cellulose is closely associated with its optical and thermal properties; however, the influence of biomass source on its structural arrangement and corresponding functional responses remains insufficiently understood. In this work, cellulose extracted from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and pomegranate peel (PCN) was prepared using a controlled chemical extraction method to investigate the relationship between source-dependent supramolecular architecture and its functional properties. Structural analysis revealed distinct hierarchical organization, molecular chain packing, and intermolecular interactions in SCB and PCN. Optical characterization revealed band gaps of 3.09 and 2.89 eV for SCB and PCN, respectively, accompanied by variations in refractive index and cluster-induced photoluminescence. Furthermore, thermal kinetic analysis revealed higher thermal stability for PCN than SCB, with activation energies (E_a) of 115.98 and 79.43 kJ/mol, respectively. Overall, these findings demonstrate clear correlations between source-dependent supramolecular architecture and the optical and thermal properties of the investigated cellulose samples, providing fundamental insights into the structure–property relationships of biomass-derived cellulose.