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

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 alpha-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.Operational Program Research and Development for Innovations; European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); national budget of Czech Republic, within the project Centre of Polymer Systems [CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0111]; Operational Program Education for Competitiveness; European Social Fund (ESF); national budget of Czech Republic within the framework of project Advanced Theoretical and Experimental Studies of Polymer Systems [CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0104]; Internal Grant Agency of Tomas Bata University in Zlin [IGA/FT/2014/008]; Materials Research Centre at FCH BUT-Sustainability and Development [REG LO1211]; National Programme for Sustainability I (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports