Surface Modification on Cellulose Nanofibers by TiO₂ Coating for Achieving High Capture Efficiency of Nanoparticles

• Main Authors: Chenning Zhang, Tetsuo Uchikoshi, Izumi Ichinose, Lihong Liu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-02-01
• Series: Coatings
• Subjects: cellulose nanofibers; TiO2 coating; electrostatic interaction; filtration
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/9/2/139
• ISSN: 2079-6412

Cellulose nanofibers were modified by TiO₂ gel layer (~25 nm in thickness) via hydrolysis reaction on the surface of the cellulose nanofibers. After the TiO₂ coating, the surface charge of the nanofiber dramatically changed from negative to positive. A high efficiency (~100%) of capturing negatively charged Au nanoparticles (5 nm) was successfully obtained by effectively utilizing the electrostatic interaction of surface charge between the TiO₂-coated cellulose nanofibers and Au nanoparticles. Therefore, this technique of surface modification will be potentially used in improving filtration efficiency for membrane applications.