Fabrication of Gold Nanocrystals on Cellulose Nanofibers and Their Applications

This thesis reports a facile method of growing gold nanocrystals (AuNCs) on cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and studies the mechanisms underlying the in-situ growth of the AuNCs on the CNFs. On the basis of mechanistic understandings, it develops the methods of controlling the crystal growth of the AuNCs on the CNFs via adjusting the factors influencing on the reaction kinetics and the crystal growth dynamics. It also extends the potential application of the AuNC/CNF composites synthesized to the formulation of highly conductive inks. This thesis provides a novel protocol for fabricating the conductive CNFs in an effective, environmentally friendly way.