Effect of electrolyte on regenerated cellulose film as gold nanoparticle carrier

The catalytic performances of gold nanoparticles immobilized on regenerated cellulose films were influenced by cellulose structure. Cellulose was regenerated in aqueous coagulants containing different electrolytes, to fabricate regenerated films with different coagulated network structure and property. Hofmeister sequence can be used to describe regeneration, namely more kosmotropic ions in the coagulants led to cellulose films with more homogeneous coagulated network structure, possibly due to the dehydration of cellulose caused by the ions. Gold nanoparticles were then immobilized on the films to prepare portable catalysts. The catalytic performance was influenced by cellulose structure. A linear relationship between the turnover frequency and the mesh size of cellulose films was observed. The results revealed that the catalytic performance can be controlled by cellulose structure, via altering the regeneration. This work provided not only the fundamental information about the intermolecular interactions between ions and macromolecules, but also an effective approach to construct powerful catalysts.