Metal nanoparticles immobilized on cellulose nanocrystals: controlled synthesis, interaction and applications

In this project, I will investigate in-situ metal nanoparticle growth fabrication kinetics in the presence of cellulose nanocrystals, followed by layer-by-layer (LBL) assembly to prepare porous active materials, followed by an evaluation of the sensing and catalytic performance of the hybrid assembled materials. In particular I will focus on exploring the interaction and formation mechanism of MNPs@CNCs and the binding interactions (enthalpic and entropic) between CNCs and MNPs. The real-time dynamic behavior of in-situ growth and the assembly process will be monitored based on surface and interface analysis techniques. Furthermore, the prepared MNPs will be used for the construction of high performance sensors and recyclable catalytic membranes to effectively detect and remove environmental pollutants from aqueous environments.

Keywords:Materials design, Surface and interface analysis, Cellulose nanocrystals, Sensors, Catalytic membrane

Disciplines:Thermal analysis, Chemistry of clusters, colloids and nanomaterials, Surface and interface chemistry, Catalysis, Sustainable chemistry not elsewhere classified