Films and hydrogels consisting of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were modified by covalent EDC/NHS coupling of luminescent, water-dispersible carbon dots (CDs). Quartz crystal microgravimetry with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) were used to investigate the attachment of CDs on carboxymethylated CNF. As the first reported use of CD in nanocellulose products, we provide proof-of-concept for the synthesis of transparent and fluorescent nanopaper and for its tunable luminescence as confirmed by confocal microscopy imaging. CD-modified CNF may find use in various biosensing applications by the virtue of its fluorescence and the surface functional groups. The CNF-CD may also be utilized in anti-counterfeit applications for example by printing the fluorescent CNF-CD gel on a paper substrate.

Modification of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) with luminescent carbon dots (CDs)

247th National Meeting (2014)

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