AgCl@cellulose composites formed in ZnCl2 solution: Synthesis and characterization

• AgCl@cellulose composites formed in ZnCl2 solution.
• Heating time influenced the morphologies of AgCl@cellulose composites.
• Heating temperature had effect on the morphologies of AgCl@cellulose composites.
• Higher ZnCl2 concentrations lead to higher thermal stabilities.

The paper aims to study the fabrication of AgCl crystals using cellulose as matrix. First, microcrystalline cellulose was dissolved in ZnCl2 solution. Then, AgNO3 was added into the mixed cellulose solution to form AgCl@cellulose composites. The as-prepared composites were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DTA). Both heating time and heating temperature had significant influences on the morphologies of AgCl@cellulose composites. The thermal stabilities of as-prepared composites were related to the concentrations of ZnCl2 solution, and higher ZnCl2 concentrations lead to higher thermal stabilities. The strategy reported here may open a new window to synthesize composites with good properties.