Graphene oxide nanosheets augment silk fibroin aerogels for enhanced water stability and oil adsorption

Machnicki CE, DuBois EM, et al.

Nanoscale Advances

Brown University, University of Maryland

RESEARCH SUMMARY

This study demonstrates a freeze-casting process to create silk fibroin aerogels reinforced with graphene oxide nanosheets, achieving high porosity, hydrophobicity, and mechanical robustness. GO addition increased modulus from 72 kPa to 618 kPa while maintaining oil absorption up to 35× their mass, making them suitable for environmental cleanup applications.

Uniaxial compression testing was performed using a CellScale UniVert with a 100 N load cell at 2 mm/min displacement. The UniVert quantified stiffness enhancement and buckling behavior in GO–silk aerogels, showing a 10× stiffness increase with 10 wt% GO reinforcement.

AUTHORS

Catherine E. Machnicki; Eric M. DuBois; Meg Fay; Snehi Shrestha; Zachary S. S. L. Saleeba; Alex M. Hruska; Zahra Ahmed; Vikas Srivastava; Po-Yen Chen; Ian Y. Wong.

PUBLICATION DETAILS

JOURNAL

Nanoscale Advances

YEAR

2023

INSTITUTIONS

Brown University, University of Maryland

COUNTRIES

United States

INSTRUMENT USED

UniVert

TESTING METHODS

Compression Testing

RESEARCH APPLICATIONS

Membranes and Thin Films MechanicsPolymers and Elastomers Testing

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