Templated Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles on Surface-Aminated 2D Cellulose Assemblies

2D nanomaterials with atomic-/molecular-level thickness are of great interest due to their unique physicochemical and functional properties derived from their planar morphologies. In vitro enzymatic synthesis of cellulose oligomers is an attractive approach for crafting 2D cellulose assemblies with tailored surface functionality. In this study, the templated synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) was demonstrated on surface-aminated 2D cellulose assemblies prepared via enzymatic reaction. Gold precursor effectively adsorbed to the surface amino groups and was subsequently reduced for AuNP production via lateral diffusion-based nucleation and subsequent growth processes on the assemblies. The immobilized AuNPs on the assemblies showed high catalytic activities toward a model hydrogenation reaction. The cellulose-based 2D nanomaterials with molecularly designable surface functionality open a new avenue for controlled synthesis and immobilization of inorganic nanoparticles.