title: Characterization of cellulose membranes modified with luminescent silicon quantum dots nanoparticles.
abstract: A highly hydrophilic planar membrane fabricated with regenerated cellulose (RC-4 membrane), a biocompatible polymer, was modified by inclusion of water-soluble silicon quantum dot nanoparticles (SiQDs). Both bare SiQDs and SiQDs coated with a PAMAM-OH dendrimer were employed in order to obtain luminescent and thermally stable membrane systems (RC-4/SiQDs and RC-4/SiQDs-PAMAM-OH membranes). Original and SiQDs-modified membranes were characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy (steady and confocal), derivative thermogravimetric analysis and impedance spectroscopy measurements. According to these results, both SiQDs-regenerated cellulose composite membranes present luminescent character as well as higher thermal resistance and conductivity than the original sample, although the dendrimer coverage of the SiQDs might partially shield such effects. Moreover, the permanence of SiQDs nanoparticles in the structure of the cellulosic support in aqueous environments and their effect on diffusive transport were determined by water uptake as well as by membrane potential measurements at different concentrations of a model electrolyte (KCl). These results demonstrate the possible use of these stable nano-engineered membranes, which are based on SiQDs nanoparticles, in electrochemical devices under flow conditions.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação em Química, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.affiliation: Grupo Caracterización Electrocinética en Membranas e Interfases, Departamento de Física Aplicada I, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gelde
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Málaga, Spain. Electronic address: malgarra67@gmail.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Algarra
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigação em Química, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: J C G
authors.initials: JCG
authors.lastname: Esteves da Silva
authors.affiliation: Grupo Caracterización Electrocinética en Membranas e Interfases, Departamento de Física Aplicada I, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.affiliation: Grupo Caracterización Electrocinética en Membranas e Interfases, Departamento de Física Aplicada I, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benavente
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D050091:Dendrimers / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D045663:Quantum Dots / Q000737:chemistry*; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D050091:Dendrimers; D049408:Luminescent Agents; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; C104700:PAMAM Starburst; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D002482:Cellulose; D012825:Silicon
keywords: Cellulose; Dendrimer; Nanoparticle; Silicon quantum dots