title: Modulation of population density and size of silver nanoparticles embedded in bacterial cellulose via ammonia exposure: visual detection of volatile compounds in a piece of plasmonic nanopaper.
abstract: The localized surface plasmon resonance exhibited by noble metal nanoparticles can be sensitively tuned by varying their size and interparticle distances. We report that corrosive vapour (ammonia) exposure dramatically reduces the population density of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded within bacterial cellulose, leading to a larger distance between the remaining nanoparticles and a decrease in the UV-Vis absorbance associated with the AgNP plasmonic properties. We also found that the size distribution of AgNPs embedded in bacterial cellulose undergoes a reduction in the presence of volatile compounds released during food spoilage, modulating the studied nanoplasmonic properties. In fact, such a plasmonic nanopaper exhibits a change in colour from amber to light amber upon the explored corrosive vapour exposure and from amber to a grey or taupe colour upon fish or meat spoilage exposure. These phenomena are proposed as a simple visual detection of volatile compounds in a flexible, transparent, permeable and stable single-use nanoplasmonic membrane, which opens the way to innovative approaches and capabilities in gas sensing and smart packaging.
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain and 3SPack, CREPEC, Département de génie chimique, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heli
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC and The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, Barcelona 08193, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morales-Narváez
authors.affiliation: ACECR-Production Technology Research Institute, Ahvaz, 6139684689, Iran.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Golmohammadi
authors.affiliation: 3SPack, CREPEC, Département de génie chimique, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ajji
authors.affiliation: ICREA - Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, Barcelona, 08010, Spain. arben.merkoci@icn2.cat.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Merkoçi
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia; D000818:Animals; D002482:Cellulose; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010316:Particle Size; D012834:Silver; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000379:methods*; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D012834:Silver; D000641:Ammonia; D002482:Cellulose