Bioinspired Fibrous Architectures Based on ZnO Templated by Eggshell Membranes

Abstract

ZnO-based nanostructures emerge as promising materials due to their potential applications in fields including electronic devices, photodetectors, photocatalysts, biocides, etc. The bio-template-mediated synthesis is a straightforward approach for obtaining inorganic or hybrid organic/inorganic materials with tailored morphologies and functional properties. Eco-friendly waste, eggshell membrane (ESM) is an ideal bio-template for the development of 3D hierarchical porous architectures due to its specific 3D interlaced fiber protein network structure. Therefore, this chapter is focused on the ESM-mediated synthesis of 3D fibrous architectures based on ZnO, the ESM organic network being functionalized with inorganic nanostructures or replicated into an inorganic one as follows: i) coated with ZnO layer by RF magnetron sputtering, (ii) covered with ZnO by electroless deposition and (iii) replicated into ZnO web by biomorphic mineralization. The obtained ZnO shows wurtzite structure, band-gap value and emission bands typical for this semiconductor. The electrical properties of the ZnO fiber webs were measured using interdigitated metallic electrodes patterned substrates. The ESM conversion from a bio-waste into new value-added nanomaterials is very attractive from the sustainability and recycle waste perspective, the ZnO-based fibrous architectures featured by a large specific surface area having potential applications in water purification, photocatalysis or chemical sensors areas.