Preparation of novel inorganic-organic hybrid materials by template-directed synthesis using bacterial cellulose as a matrix

Abstract

In the present study, the novel inorganic-organic hybrid materials of magnetic particles, silver particles, zinc oxide particles and bacterial cellulose (BC) were successfully prepared by using template-directed synthesis method. The cations precursor of magnetic, silver and zinc oxide particles were firstly homogeneously dispersed into the BC matrix. Then, the dispersed-cations were converted to be metal or metal oxide particles inside BC matrix. By using BC as a template, the homogeneously distribution with optimizing particle size of the as-synthesized metal and metal oxide particles inside BC matrix were successfully achieved. These were resulted in the synergistic properties between the as-synthesized metal or metal oxide particles and BC matrix. The as-prepared samples were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The magnetic and electric properties of the as-prepared magnetic particle, silver particle and magnetic/silver particle incorporated-BC samples were studied by using the vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and two points probe conductivity meter, respectively. Finally, the photo-catalytic activities of the as-prepared zinc oxide particle incorporated-bacterial cellulose samples were studied by monitoring the antibacterial activity of the as-prepared sample.