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Lookup NU author(s): Professor David XieORCiD
This is the authors' accepted manuscript of an article that has been published in its final definitive form by American Chemical Society, 2022.
For re-use rights please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions.
A naked-eye detector based on a rapid transmittance response to alcohol was designed to offer real-time and reusable detection of fruit freshness. To ensure the hydrophobicity of the fibrous membrane and high light transmission response to alcohol, fluorine-rich poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) with a low refractive index was selected as the shell layer, while sodium alginate (SA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were selected as the core layer for coaxial electrospinning. The core–shell fibrous detector was obtained by treatment with CaCl2 to form a stable hydrogel and by water flushing to remove PVA. The interior structure of the fiber and its evolution were investigated with increasing SA concentration, which changed from a nonconcentric structure to a core–shell structure. Without SA, nonconcentric structured fibers were obtained due to high flowability and incompatibility between the organic solvent phase of PVDF-HFP and the aqueous phase of PVA. As the SA concentration increased, the enhanced viscosity and surface tension decreased the asymmetric mobility significantly, which competed with the charge attractive forces from the Taylor cone surface, leading to a core–shell structure. The as-spun membranes were opaque due to light scattering at the interface between air and fiber and became light transparent after immersion in a rotten fruit-containing alcohol and acetic acid due to a decreased light loss. The rapidly responsive, reusable fibrous membranes with over 90% light transparency developed here have high potential for application in visual intelligent packaging to monitor the freshness of fruits and vegetables.
Author(s): Xiao Y, Xie F, Luo H, Tang R, Hou J
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
Year: 2022
Volume: 14
Issue: 6
Pages: 8437-8447
Print publication date: 16/02/2022
Online publication date: 07/02/2022
Acceptance date: 21/01/2022
Date deposited: 17/02/2022
ISSN (print): 1944-8244
ISSN (electronic): 1944-8252
Publisher: American Chemical Society
URL: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.1c23055
DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c23055
ePrints DOI: 10.57711/rnz9-jv17
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