Nature-inspired synthesis of soft and biohybrid nanomaterials based on a smart use of natural hyperbranched polyelectrolytes – humic substancesтезисы доклада
Аннотация:A novel platform for nature-inspired synthesis of soft and biohybrid nanomaterials is proposed. It is based on a smart use of natural hyperbranched polyelectrolytes – humic substances, which possess multiple functional groups including carboxyl, hydroxyl, amide, and others. This polyfunctionality and molecular heterogeneity underpin life-sustaining roles of HS in the environment including self-purification of the contaminated systems, control over bioavailability of biogenic metals, maintenance of soil structure and fertility.
Multiple functional groups of HS make them amenable both for classical chemical modification as well as for producing interpolyelectrolyte complexes. In this work, we present both approaches for manufacturing silicon-containing humic derivatives and supramolecular complexes with acquired new property - self-adhesion to both inorganic and bio-surfaces. The synthesis is conducted using humic materials from different sources and functional organosilanes. Self-assembly of the supramolecular silicon-humic systems into adlayers at the water-solid interface is used for fabricating humic coatings. This process is similar to formation of organic coatings on mineral surfaces in soils. This allows us to propose a use of the silicon-humic complexes for reconstructing soil restoration processes both in the lab and in the field.
The capability of HS to modify mineral surfaces was used to synthesize humic-clay complexes, which simulate particulate organo-mineral associates. The latter play crucial role in self-purification of oil-contaminated water ecosystems. We could demonstrate that the synthetic clay-humic complexes efficiently stabilized oil in water emulsions that gives good promise for their application in practice as solid oil dispersants.
Surface active and complexing properties of humic polyelectrolytes were used for synthesis of nanoparticles with high colloidal stability in water solutions. The humics-assisted syntheses were conducted for nanoparticles of gold, silver, and iron. These studies can shed light on the fate and role of nanoparticles in the environment.
The presented results allowed us to conclude on a broad perspectives for a use of humics-based soft and hybrid nanomaterials in the modern agricultural and environmental technologies.
Acknowledgement: This research was partially supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research grant # 13-04-0185313.