Synthesis of mesoporous titania networks consisting of anatase nanowires by templating of bacterial cellulose membranes

Synthesis ofMnO2Microfiber with Secondary Nanostructure by Cotton Template

HierarchicalMnO2microfibers were prepared by using cotton as the template andKMnO4as the precursor via an ultrasonic assistance route. The results of scanning electron microscope characterization showed that the concentration ofKMnO4had a significant effect on the morphology ofMnO2microfiber. At low concentration ofKMnO4, the microfiber was composed ofMnO2nanorods with single crystal structure. With increasing the concentration ofKMnO4, the secondary nanostructure ofMnO2microfibers had a transformation from nanorod to nanoparticle. The results ofN2adsorption-desorption analysis indicated thatMnO2microfibers had BET surface area of about 25 m2/g. This synthesis provides a new way to control the secondary nanostructure ofMnO2microfiber by adjusting the concentration of precursor. Furthermore, the mechanism for the replication was proposed and discussed.

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.