Layer-by-layer nanoparticle coatings on lignocellulose wood microfibers

The layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique was applied to deposit organized multilayers of TiO2 or SiO2 nanoparticles of 30-80 nm diameter, and 50-nm diameter halloysite clay nanotubes on softwood fibers. Fluorescent and scanning electron microscopy images showed complete nanoparticle coating on these fibers. The thickness of the two-layer coating was estimated as 46, 58, and 115 nm for TiO2, SiO2, and halloysite tubules, respectively, which corresponds to ca. 1 wt% nanoparticle loading of the fibers. The brightness test of paper handsheets prepared from nanocoated fibers showed that TiO2 nanoparticle coating gave handsheet reflectance of 84% at 450 nm, which is 4% higher than the brightness of the control sample from virgin fibers. The paper handsheets prepared with nanoparticle-coated fibers had 30-50% higher porosity with tensile strength index retained close to the control sample.