title: Investigation of the electro-spinnability of alginate solutions containing gold precursor HAuCl4.
abstract: Alginate nanofibers with an average diameter of 75nm have been prepared by the electrospinning process. In addition, the spinnability of the solutions in the presence of the gold precursor HAuCl4 was investigated. At low concentrations of HAuCl4 well-formed nanofibers were produced, whereas as its concentration increases the nanofibrous mats present an increased number of bead-like defects. Herein, the in situ preparation of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) is discussed since sodium alginate (SA) acts as the reducing agent and a mechanism is proposed in order to explain the bead-effect as well as the surface morphology of the alginate fibers decorated with Au NPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, Athens 15771, Greece; Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: anyfantisgc@chem.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Anyfantis
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hajiali
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: e.mele2@lboro.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.affiliation: Nanochemistry, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carzino
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marini
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Evie L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Papadopoulou
authors.affiliation: Smart Materials, Nanophysics, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego, 30, 16163 Genova, Italy. Electronic address: athanassia.athanassiou@iit.it.
authors.forename: Athanassia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanassiou
keywords: Gold nanoparticles; Nano-fibers; Sodium alginate