Fig. 3: Effect of fractionation on the phase sequence.

a Phase separation in suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals between crossed polarizers for the initial series (init-CNC), the short-rod fraction (iii-CNC), and the long-rod fraction (aaa-CNC) as a function of the CNC mass fraction w in pure water. b Quantitative plots of the volume fraction Φ of the LC phase for the three series. The error bars correspond to five different measurements per sample vial. The sample vials stood for 4 months before the photos were taken and the quantitative measurements made. The connecting lines are visual guides