Mechanistic insights into graphene oxide-enhanced single electrospun PMMA fibres achieved via surface interface engineering

Abstract

Herein, we focus on optimising the electrospinning parameters to fabricate well-defined, physically distinct cotton-like fibres of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with the incorporation of 0.39 wt% graphene oxide (GO). So-fabricated cotton-like distinct single fibres were extensively characterised by employing advanced techniques like high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) to study the internal structure and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to evaluate the mechanical properties of the single fibres at the nanoscale to overcome the ambiguities associated with the conventional mechanical property testing for a fibrous mat. The studies revealed that the fibres produced were highly flexible (DMT modulus ∼ 0.28 GPa) with exceptional thermo-mechanical performances and cryogenic stability. Also, the probable underlying mechanism and the molecular-level interaction of PMMA–GO have been discussed thoroughly. The biocompatibility of PMMA–GO single fibres has been examined by the cell viability test. The findings demonstrated that PMMA–GO fibres are non-toxic to cells at higher GO concentrations. Importantly, this study is directed towards the comprehensive characterisation of single electrospun fibres, thereby investigating their behaviour in a cryogenic (liquid nitrogen) environment.