Electrostatic assembly and growth of gold nanoparticles in cellulosic fibres

Synthetic studies of nanocomposites containing gold nanoparticles attached onto wood or bacterial cellulosic fibres have been performed in situ in the presence of the fibres or by polyelectrolyte-assisted deposition. The optical properties of the final nanocomposites could be tailored not only by the starting Au nanoparticles characteristics but also by the preparative method associated to the type of cellulosic fibres used as the substrate. Thus, gold nanoparticles assembled or generated in situ within cellulosic fibres, are excellent components for long term optical and chemically stable nanocomposites, which appear particularly interesting for security paper applications.

Graphical abstractWood or bacterial cellulose fibres were used as the substrates for the preparation of gold nanocomposites. The optical properties of the final gold nanocomposites depend on several parameters which include the type of cellulose used and nanoparticles surface modification procedures. Among other applications, these gold cellulosic nanocomposites seem of particular interest for making security paper products.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide