The development of sustainable nanocomposites is gaining attention due to their potential applications arising from the combination of unique properties of nanocellulose and metal nanoparticles (MNPs). Noble metal nanoparticles such as silver, gold, and palladium exhibit valuable optical and catalytic properties but face challenges like aggregation and difficult recovery. To address these issues, we used nanocellulose as a renewable, high-surface-area support for in-situ growth of MNPs. Nanocellulose variants with different surface chemistries, including carboxylated, quaternized, dialdehyde, and dicarboxylate-modified variants, were prepared. Novel microwave-assisted and UV-light assisted methods were employed to synthesize the MNPs without toxic reducing agents. The resulting composites demonstrated excellent performance in biosensing small molecules and catalyzing dye pollutant removal from water. The nanocellulose matrix facilitated easy recovery and reusability, with the ability to form films, foams, and aerogels.
Rajkumar Bandi [ The institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea ]
Ramakrishna Dadigala [ The institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea ]
Seung-Woo Cho [ Department of Forest Biomaterials & Engineering, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea ]
Song-Yi Han [ The institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea ]
Gu-Joong Kwon [ The institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea ]
Seung-Hwan Lee [ The institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University/Department of Forest Biomaterials & Engineering, Kangwon National University, Republic of Korea ]
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