Following up on our optical characterization of electrospun fibers containing cholesteric liquid crystals we have now published a paper describing a nanoscale characterization of the same type of fibers by scanning electron microscopy, correlated with polarizing optical microscopy investigations. The study, which was carried out in collaboration with Prof. Giusy Scalia and co-workers (LC Nano lab), compares fibers prepared with slightly varying sheath solution compositions. We find large variations of external morphology as well as the degree and character of liquid crystal filling, depending on the exact spinning conditions and composition of the sheath solution. You can download the paper, published in Macromolecular Materials & Engineering, here.

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