Nanocrystalline cellulose mediated seed-growth for ultra-robust colorimetric detection of hydrogen sulfide.

We describe an ultra-stable, ultra-robust, straightforward and low-cost approach for the colorimetric detection of H2 S with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) based on the reaction of H2 S with lead acetate. The presence of NCC not only mediates the seed growth of a PbS/NCC complex, but also acts as a stabilizer protecting PbS from precipitation. This stable system is so robust that it can be used to quantitatively detect H2 S even after two-year storage.