title: Noble metal/functionalized cellulose nanofiber composites for catalytic applications.
abstract: In this study, cellulose acetate nanofibers (CANFs) with a mean diameter of 325 ± 2.0 nm were electrospun followed by deacetylation and functionalization to produce anionic cellulose nanofibers (f-CNFs). The noble metal nanoparticles (RuNPs and AgNPs) were successfully decorated on the f-CNFs by a simple wet reduction method using NaBH4 as a reducing agent. TEM and SEM images of the nanocomposites (RuNPs/CNFs and AgNPs/CNFs) confirmed that the very fine RuNPs or AgNPs were homogeneously dispersed on the surface of f-CNFs. The weight percentage of the Ru and Ag in the nanocomposites was found to be 13.29 wt% and 22.60 wt% respectively; as confirmed by SEM-EDS analysis. The metallic state of the Ru and Ag in the nanocomposites was confirmed by XPS and XRD analyses. The usefulness of these nanocomposites was realized from their superior catalytic activity. In the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde, the RuNPs/CNFs system gave a better yield of 89% with 100% selectivity. Similarly, the AgNPs/CNFs produced an excellent yield of 99% (100% selectivity) in the aza-Michael reaction of 1-phenylpiperazine with acrylonitrile. Mechanism has been proposed for the catalytic systems.
authors.affiliation: Nano Fusion Technology Research Lab, Division of Frontier Fibers, Institute for Fiber Engineering (IFES), Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), National University Corporation, Shinshu University, Ueda 386 8567, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayakrishnan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gopiraman
authors.affiliation: Nano Fusion Technology Research Lab, Division of Frontier Fibers, Institute for Fiber Engineering (IFES), Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), National University Corporation, Shinshu University, Ueda 386 8567, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Hyunsik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bang
authors.affiliation: Nano Fusion Technology Research Lab, Division of Frontier Fibers, Institute for Fiber Engineering (IFES), Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), National University Corporation, Shinshu University, Ueda 386 8567, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Guohao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Nano Fusion Technology Research Lab, Division of Frontier Fibers, Institute for Fiber Engineering (IFES), Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), National University Corporation, Shinshu University, Ueda 386 8567, Nagano, Japan.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Clothing & Textiles, PaiChai University, Daejeon 302-735, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Clothing and Textiles, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: College of Life and Environmental, Department of Applied Bioscience, Konkuk University, 120 Neungdong-ro, Gwangji-gu, Seoul 143-701, South Korea. Electronic address: imcim@konkuk.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Ill Min
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli 620 015, India. Electronic address: kar@nitt.edu.
authors.forename: Ramasamy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karvembu
authors.affiliation: Nano Fusion Technology Research Lab, Division of Frontier Fibers, Institute for Fiber Engineering (IFES), Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research (ICCER), National University Corporation, Shinshu University, Ueda 386 8567, Nagano, Japan. Electronic address: kimicksoo.gr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ick Soo
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D019905:Benzyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis; D002482:Cellulose / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D056951:Photoelectron Spectroscopy; D010879:Piperazines / Q000737:chemistry; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; C005062:acetylcellulose; D012834:Silver; D012428:Ruthenium; D002482:Cellulose; C031503:phenylpiperazine; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol
keywords: Cellulose nanocomposites; Electrospinning; Heterogeneous catalysis; Noble metals; Reusability; Surface modification