In Situ Synthesis of Hierarchical Nanocomposites Utilizing Redox-Active Biofibers by a Novel Biogenic Technique

Abstract

Biogenic technique for the synthesis of composites with nanopatterns is evolving into an important branch of nanobiotechnology and materials science. In this work, the biomaterials eggshell membrane fibers (ESMF) and silk fibroin fibers (SFF) were infused into palladium chloride and silver nitrate solution at room temperature to actualize the extracellular nucleation of noble metal nanocrystallites and in situ assembly into composites with hierarchical nanostructures on the biofibers. The present biofibers not only served as the reacting substrates but also functioned as the surfactants, so that small-sized but well-crystallized nanocrystallites could be organized into subtle hierarchy to form inorganic-organic nanocomposites under the direction of the biomacromolecules.