Integration of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in a nanopaper matrix

Abstract

The main objective of the present TFG is to create a new functionalized nanopaper with different percentages of AuNPs and to assess their properties, such as physical, optical and mechanical. CNF with different levels of oxidation will be obtained from pine and eucalyptus bleached fibers. These obtained nanofibers will be characterized and afterwards they will be used to form nanopapers. Six different types of nanopapers will be fabricated as to determine how the addition of different quantities AuNPs affects the properties of the composite.

The scope of this work consists on introducing the cellulose nanofibers, nanopaper, AuNPs and functionalized nanopapers concepts, determine the state of the art of the nanocellulose/AuNPs composite and the characterization of the obtained CNF and nanopapers. To characterize the CNF the yield of fibrillation, the carboxylic group amount, the cationic demand and the polymerization degree will be studied.

To characterize the different nanopapers the thickness, the density, the transmittance the FE-SEM microphotographs, the mechanical properties and the surface plasmon resonance will be studied