Copper-Coordinated Lignin Nanoparticles

Tunable Size and Metal Loading

Lignin fractions with distinct molecular structures co-assembled with Cu2+ via one-step antisolvent precipitation, yielding nanoparticles with tunable size and high metal loading, offering a new route for biomass-based functional nanomaterials.

Ruonan, Wang · Haibo, Liu · Liu, Shan · Si, Chuanling · Dai, Lin

ChemSusChem 2026

Specifications

Cu2+ immobilization efficiency

{'zh': '93.63–95.73', 'en': '93.63–95.73'} %

Particle size

{'zh': '278.4–423.3', 'en': '278.4–423.3'} nm

Advantages

High and tunable Cu immobilization

By tuning the molecular structure of lignin fractions and Cu2+ concentration, the immobilization efficiency can be adjusted between 93.63% and 95.73%.

Size tunable with narrow distribution

The resulting nanoparticles have tunable sizes from 278.4 to 423.3 nm with a narrow distribution, ensuring batch consistency.

One-step fabrication

Metal-loaded lignin nanoparticles are fabricated via a facile, one-step antisolvent precipitation method, avoiding complex equipment.

Applications

• metal-phenolic complex catalysts：Provide high-density and tunable copper active sites for catalysis.
• metal-coordinated nanocarriers for drug delivery：Utilize copper coordination crosslinking for drug loading and controlled release.
• biomass-based nanomaterials：Fabricate functional nanomaterials from renewable lignin.