Microwave solvothermal decoration of the cellulose surface by nanostructured hybrid Ag/ZnO particles: a joint XPS, XRD and SEM study

• Published in: Cellulose (London) 2015-04, Vol.22 (2), p.1275-1293
• Main Authors: Bazant, Pavel, Kuritka, Ivo, Munster, Lukas, Kalina, Lukas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioorganic Chemistry; Cellulose; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Contact angle; Decoration; Glass; Hydrogen peroxide; microwave treatment; Natural Materials; Nonthermal effects; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Photoelectrons; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Precursors; Raw materials; Reaction mechanisms; Reducing agents; Scanning electron microscopy; semiconductors; Silver; silver nitrate; Spectrum analysis; Substrates; Sustainable Development; Synthesis; Temperature effects; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy; X-ray diffraction; Zinc acetate; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides
• ISSN: 0969-0239; 1572-882X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10570-015-0561-y

The synthesis of hybrid silver/zinc oxide (Ag/ZnO) decoration on the cellulose surface is described. The structures were characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and corroborated with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Silver nitrate and zinc acetate dihydrate were used as soluble raw materials. Hexamethylenetetraamine was used as the precipitating and reducing agent. The surface of α-cellulose was always treated by hydrogen peroxide before synthesis with a relatively mild effect manifested in water contact angle measurement and XPS high-resolution spectra. The Ag/ZnO decoration system was identified as a true nanodispersed metal/semiconductor hybrid with a unique collective plasmonic structure observed on Ag 3d core lines for the first time. A series of experiments with a single precursor solution contributed to the characterization of the interaction of Ag⁺and Zn²⁺species with the surface and to the description of the reaction mechanism in the mixed precursor solution. In contrast to previous reports, a specific interaction between the cellulose substrate and Zn²⁺was observed. No specific non-thermal effects of microwave heating were observed.