Precious metal nanocrystals made from cellulose fibers.(Brief article)

Advanced Materials & Processes,  June, 2007  

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Acid-treated cellulose fibers from cotton serve as a natural template for growing gold, silver, palladium, platinum, copper, nickel, and other metal and metal-oxide nanocrystals quickly and of uniform size, report researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash. The acid converts the cellulose to a large, stable, crystallized molecule rich in hydroxyl groups that comprise the cellulose molecule's backbone.

When the metal salts dissolved in solution are heated 70 to 200[degrees]C (or warmer) for four to 16 hours, uniform metal crystals form at the hydroxyl sites. ...

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