Preparation of cellulose-ZnO hybrid films by a wet chemical method and their characterization

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were immobilized on the surface of regenerated cellulose films by a wet chemical method in which the controlled hydrolysis of a Zn(II)-amine complex leads to the formation of ZnO nanoparticles. Cellulose-ZnO materials were characterized by spectral, thermal and optical methods. Scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope analyses confirmed the formation of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of the regenerated cellulose film and X-ray diffraction patterns showed the ZnO had the wurtzite structure. The reported method is very simple, and can immobilize the nanoparticles without the aid of a binder or dendritic side group and without high temperature treatments like calcination. ZnO immobilized on biopolymers like cellulose has many potential applications such as strain sensors, biomedical sensors, flexible display devices and optoelectronics.