Ea. Campos et al., PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NIOBIUM OXIDE-COATED CELLULOSE FIBER, Journal of colloid and interface science, 180(2), 1996, pp. 453-459
The Nb2O5/cellulose composite was prepared by reacting alpha-cellulose
with NbCl5 . n(OC2H5)(n), in nonaqueous solvent, under nitrogen atmos
phere and submitting the obtained material to hydrolysis, An increase
in the crystallinity degree is observed in the composite material beca
use the precursor reagent reacts with the amorphous phase of the cellu
lose fibers. Loadings between 4.5 and 16.0% of the oxide were achieved
and in every case the oxide particles uniformly cover the fiber surfa
ce, Lewis and Bronsted acid sites were determined by using pyridine as
the basic molecular probe. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.