Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) is an attractive environmental nanomaterial as a reinforcing material, a template for functionalities, and for preparing porous aerogels or flat nanopapers. Herein we demonstrate the preparation of structured materials comprising of wood-derived NFC as well as the functionalization of these materials in the forms of hydrogel, aerogel, and film with metal nanoparticles. The carboxylate groups on NFC resulting from TEMPO production process not only provide surface charges preventing NFC from agglomerations, but also allow surface binding of metal species such as Ag+ onto NFC. The gelation behavior of NFC in response to the sufficient reduction of NFC surface charges was utilized to incorporate Ag+ to the surfaces of NFC and to induce formation of NFC-Ag hydrogel. Aerogel and thin film composed of a continuous matrix of NFC were decorated with Ag nanoparticles by freeze-drying or solution-casting of a NFC-Ag+ dispersion followed by reduction. The resulting structures were investigated by FESEM, TEM and AFM.

Nanofibrillated cellulose structured materials functionalized with metal nanoparticles

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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