Modulation of population density and size of silver nanoparticles embedded in bacterial cellulose via ammonia exposure: visual detection of volatile compounds in a piece of plasmonic nanopaper

Abstract

The localized surface plasmon resonance exhibited by noble metal nanoparticles can be sensitively tuned by varying their size and interparticle distances. We report that corrosive vapour (ammonia) exposure dramatically reduces the population density of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) embedded within bacterial cellulose, leading to a larger distance between the remaining nanoparticles and a decrease in the UV-Vis absorbance associated with the AgNP plasmonic properties. We also found that the size distribution of AgNPs embedded in bacterial cellulose undergoes a reduction in the presence of volatile compounds released during food spoilage, modulating the studied nanoplasmonic properties. In fact, such a plasmonic nanopaper exhibits a change in colour from amber to light amber upon the explored corrosive vapour exposure and from amber to a grey or taupe colour upon fish or meat spoilage exposure. These phenomena are proposed as a simple visual detection of volatile compounds in a flexible, transparent, permeable and stable single-use nanoplasmonic membrane, which opens the way to innovative approaches and capabilities in gas sensing and smart packaging.

Simple, Flexible, and Ultrastable Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Substrate Based on Plasmonic Nanopaper Decorated with Graphene Oxide

“…Interestingly, the synthesized AgNPs decrease their sizes from 12 to 9 nm, whereas the respective plasmonic bands appear to redshift from 429 to 445 nm, which might not be particularly consistent with the well‐studied size effect on LSPR of noble metal nanoparticle suspensions. This behavior can be attributed to the observed widespread distribution of the synthesized AgNPs, and the interparticle distance depicted by their respective AgNPs population density, which also strongly affects LSPR . Table highlights these observations.…”

Bioluminescent nanopaper for rapid screening of toxic substances

“…Recently, bacterial cellulose nanopaper produced by Acetobacter xylinum has shown up excellent potential in several fields [21][22][23]. Thanks to its remarkable physical properties, special surface chemistry and excellent biological properties (biocompatibility and biodegradability), bacterial cellulose nanopaper has been selected as a culture skeleton for the cell proliferation [24][25] which suggest its potential to be a desirable substrate for bioluminescent A. fischeri.…”

Towards sensor applications of a polymer/Ag nanoparticle nanocomposite film

“…22 Localization and resonant character of free electron oscillations results in the enhancement of both electric and magnetic elds around the nanoparticle. The enhancement gives rise to various surfaceenhanced techniques including SERS (Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering), 23 SEPL (Surface Enhanced Photo Luminescence), 24 SEIRA (Surface Enhanced IR Absorption), 25 and can be also employed in the effective sensors for VOC detection 26,27 or for monitoring of the refractive index of surrounding medium. 28 In many practical analytical applications it is more rational to use ensembles of the NPs rather than individual NPs.…”