CHED 309 |
| The controlled deposition of silver nanoparticles on cellulosic nanofibers is reported. Nonwoven mats of cellulose acetate nanofibers were obtained via electrospinning of cellulose acetate in a solution of 3:1 acetone / dimethylacetamide. Deacetylation of the fibers was performed by immersing the nanofiber mats in a sodium hydroxide ethanol solution. Complete deacetylation of the fibers was confirmed using FTIR and monitoring the extinction of characteristic acetate peaks (1740 and 1225 cm-1). Further treatment of the cellulose fibers with sodium chloroacetate yielded anionic groups on the surface of the cellulose fibers. Anionic cellulose fibers were immersed into a silver nitrate solution for adsorption of silver ions. The adsorbed ions were reduced to silver metal nanoparticles via UV radiation. The nanofibers were probed using SEM and TEM revealing nanofibers coated with spherically- shaped particles adhered onto the surface. These particles were confirmed to be silver via EDS. Cellulose nanofibers are of specific interest as it is the most abundant and renewable polymer. Potential applications include wound dressings, active filtration of bacteria as well as flexible low-pressure drop catalytic mantles. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Nanotechnology
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |