Vascular tubules in natural leaves form quasi-fractal networks that can be metallized. Traditional metallization techniques for these lignocellulose structures are complex, involving metal sputtering, nanoparticle solutions, or multiple chemical pretreatments. Here we present a novel, facile, and reliable method for metallizing leaf-derived lignocellulose scaffolds using silver microparticles. The method achieves properties on-par with the state-of-the-art, such as broadband optical transmittance of over 80%, sheet resistances below 1 Ω/sq., and a current-carrying capacity exceeding 6 A over a 2.5 × 2.5 cm² quasi-fractal electrode. We also demonstrate copper electrodeposition as a cost-effective approach towards fabricating such conductive, biomimetic quasi-fractals. Additionally, we show that these metallized structures can effectively eliminate pathogenic microorganisms like fecal coliforms and E. coli, which are bacterial indicators of microbiological contamination of water. We finally show that these oligodynamic properties can be significantly enhanced with a small externally applied voltage, indicating the noteworthy potential of such structures for water purification and pollution control.

天然叶中的维管小管形成可以金属化的准分形网络。这些木质纤维素结构的传统金属化技术很复杂，涉及金属溅射、纳米颗粒溶液或多种化学预处理。在这里，我们提出了一种新颖、简单且可靠的方法，用于使用银微粒金属化叶衍生的木质纤维素支架。该方法实现了与最先进的特性相当的性能，例如超过 80% 的宽带光学透射率、低于 1 Ω/sq. 的薄层电阻以及在 2.5 × 2.5 cm² 准分形电极上超过 6 A 的载流能力。我们还证明了铜电沉积是制造这种导电、仿生准分形的一种经济高效的方法。此外，我们表明这些金属化结构可以有效消除粪大肠菌群和大肠杆菌等病原微生物，它们是水微生物污染的细菌指标。我们最后表明，这些寡动力学特性可以通过较小的外部施加电压显着增强，这表明这种结构在水净化和污染控制方面具有值得注意的潜力。