In-Situ GISAXS Study of Supramolecular Nanofibers having Ultrafast Humidity Sensitivity

A. Bhattacharyya, M. K. Sanyal, U. Mogera, S. J. George, M. K. Mukhopadhyay, S. Maiti and G. U. Kulkarni
Scientific Reports, 7, 246 (2017)

In this study, in-situ grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering (GISAXS) measurements were performed to understand humidity dependent self-reorganization of the nanofibers. The instantaneous changes in the organization of the nanofibers was monitored with different equilibrium RH conditions. The RH dependent GISAXS results revealed a high degree of swelling in the lattice of the micelles and reduction in the distortion of the hexagonal structure with increase in RH. In high RH condition, the nanofibers show elliptical distortion but could not break into lamellar phase as observed during formation through drying. This observed structural deformation gives insight into nanoscopic structural changes of the micelles with change in RH around it and in turn explains ultrafast sensitivity in its conductivity for RH variation.

Posted by Dr. U. Mogera