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Article
Structure and morphology of electrospun silk nanofibers
Polymer
  • Shahrzad Zarkoob, The University Of Akron
  • R. K. Eby, The University Of Akron
  • Darrell Reneker, The University of Akron
  • Steven D. Hudson
  • Dale Ertley, The University Of Akron
  • Wade W. Adams
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2004
Abstract

Nanoscale fibers of natural silks of Bombyx mori and Nephila clavipes were produced from solutions in hexafluoro-2-propanol. The electrospun fibers were observed by optical, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. These nanofibers showed optical retardation, appeared to have a circular cross-section, and were thermally stable under nitrogen to 280 °C (N. clavipes) and to 245 °C (B. mori). The diameter of the fibers ranged from approximately 6.5–200 nm making them orders of magnitudes smaller than the natural silks spun by most silkworms and spiders. The smallest fiber diameters correspond to 200 molecules in the cross section of the N. clavipes fibers and 150 in B. mori. Electron diffraction patterns of annealed electrospun fibers of B. mori and N. clavipes exhibit diffraction peaks demonstrating orientational and crystalline order comparable to that of naturally spun silks.

Citation Information
Shahrzad Zarkoob, R. K. Eby, Darrell Reneker, Steven D. Hudson, et al.. "Structure and morphology of electrospun silk nanofibers" Polymer Vol. 45 Iss. 11 (2004) p. 3973 - 3977
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/darrell_reneker/83/