Facile Sol-gel Synthesis of Metaloxide Nanoparticles in a Cellulose Paper Template

Abstract

Ensembles of free standing particles of titanium, zinc, copper and iron oxides of 6-109 nm in size were sol-gel synthesized with a use of a cellulose paper as a template. The calcination time as short as 60 min at 550°C in air was found to be sufficient for the formation of crystalline single phase TiO2 or ZnO nanoparticles, Cu2O+CuO or Fe2O3+Fe3O4 nanocomposites and to burn out the organic components. The impurities initially present in the cellulose (Сa, Na, Cl) were detected in the synthesized compounds.