Inorganic replication of human hair and in situ synthesis of gold nanoparticles

Abstract

The structure of hair was replicated via a solgel process using human hair as a template. When using silicate and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as the precursor, the cell structure of the hair cuticle was not well replicated. When using Ti(OnBu)₄ as the precursor, however, titania microtubes were obtained, with nanopores in their walls and nanoporous platelets on their outer surfaces, which were derived from cuticle cells on the hair surfaces. The nanopores in the microtubes acted as an effective nanoreactor for in situ synthesis of Au nanoparticles. The microchannels, nanopores and noble metal nanoparticles may provide a unique combination that would be attractive in applications such as catalysis, adsorption, and separation.