The effect of silver clusters intercalation into the cellulose matrix on the vibrational spectra of microcrystalline cellulose

Comparison of some characteristics of microcrystalline cellulose samples and of those subjected to intercalation of silver (0) clusters using Raman spectroscopy and SEM combined with EDXA has been carried out. It has been shown that Raman spectroscopy is one of the most sensitive spectral methods to characterize the changes occurring in diffusion-reduction processes on microcrystalline cellulose. Silver intercalation into the microcrystalline cellulose matrix proceeds via various mechanisms, depending on the type of the reducing agent. In some cases, the reducing reagents and solvents are involved in the diffusion-reduction process. The most pronounced effect of intercalation can be seen for the microcrystalline cellulose-silver samples prepared in aqueous-glycerol medium. A second major conclusion that can be drawn from the Raman spectra is that greater changes in MCC samples occur at the fiber surface rather than in bulk.