Biosynthesis, characterization and optical properties of nano-crystalline rosette-shape aragonite and iron(III) chloride–graphite intercalated materials from bacterial cellulose

In this research, well crystalline phase rosette-shape aragonite and iron(III) chloride–graphite intercalated nano-crystals have been prepared by thermal treatment of bacterial cellulose as a promising material.The iron(III) chloride–graphite intercalated nano material was prepared by a novel one-step using bacterial cellulose impregnated directly into the iron(III) chloride with graphitization pyrolysis process at 800 °C under nitrogen. The rosette-shape aragonite was synthesized by thermal treatment at 400 °C in oxygen atmosphere and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed the crystal phase of aragonite. The rosette-shape aragonite and iron(III) chloride–graphite intercalated nano materials were characterized extensively by XRD, field emission scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared, and atomic force microscopy techniques. Moreover, the room temperature photoluminescence spectra measurement at excitation band 254 nm of rosette-shape aragonite nano-crystals displayed an intense emission band centred at 500 nm. The nano-structure bacterial cellulose and various its functional groups such as hydroxyls and carboxylates have important effects on nucleation, growth and orientation of prepared crystals. The well crystaline phase rosette-shape aragonite and iron(III) chloride–graphite intercalation compounds have a potential range of application in hydrogen storage and electronic field.