Nature-Inspired Microfluidic Template As a Substrate for Plasmonic Nanoparticles

The sophisticated vasculature of leaves has been replicated to aid in the construction of a microfluidic like device. Their abundance in nature necessitates research into their development into low-cost, renewable platforms for various applications. The presence of functional groups of amines, hydroxyls in the leaf vasculature along with its porous microstructure facilitate formation of metallic nanoparticles from metal salts in situ. This technique of using only the leaf skeleton does not require additional reducing agents to assist nanoparticle formation. The templated nanoparticles within leaves demonstrate excellent catalytic properties, thereby imparting catalytic and plasmonic properties to the leaf itself. Additionally it has been shown that the nanoparticles can be recovered in aqueous medium by simple thermal decomposition of the leaf. The nanoparticles have been further characterized by TEM, SEM, UV-Visible Spectroscopy and Selected area diffraction. FTIR studies were performed on the crushed leaves to verify the presence of functional groups.  Everything considered, this facile approach in bio-templating plasmonic nanoparticles has led to the generation of organic-inorganic structures which has potential for diverse applications in sensing, catalysis and medicine.